Building a More Secure and Traceable Supply Chain
Lessons from Aerospace Leaders

Introduction

From counterfeit parts to sub-tier traceability and AI-driven documentation, the aerospace supply chain is transforming faster than ever.

In SmartCert’s panel discussion, “Building a More Secure and Traceable Supply Chain,” leaders from across aerospace explored how collaboration, digitization, and intelligent automation are shaping the industry’s future.

Moderated by Lonni Kieffer, COO and Co-Founder of SmartCert, the panel featured:

· Fred Short, Chief Growth Officer, FDH Aero

· Damien Buist, Executive, Materials Strategy Initiatives, GE Aerospace

· Rob Suhs, VP of Global Sales, Inventory Locator Service (ILS)

· Dan Hopkins, SVP Public Sector, Resilinc Corporation

· Calvin Anderson, Sr. Director of Supply Chain and Logistics, Blue Origin, LLC

Traceability: The Foundation of Trust

“As important as good parts are, so is paperwork and traceability. You can stop a production line or hold up an aircraft in maintenance without the correct certification,” shared Fred Short of FDH Aero.

Rob Suhs of ILS added:

“Anyone who’s dug through a pallet of banker boxes knows the pain. Documentation can create more friction than sourcing the part itself.”

Traceability isn’t just a compliance issue — it’s the cornerstone of trust, safety, and operational efficiency. As Lonni Kieffer summarized:

“Traceability, AI, and collaboration all come down to one thing — connection. Connecting systems, suppliers, and data so we can move faster, reduce risk, and strengthen trust.”

Counterfeit Parts and Supply Chain Security

Damien Buist of GE Aerospace, who also represents the Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition (ASCIC), highlighted the urgency of the industry’s current challenges:

“We need to strengthen vendor accreditation, develop feedback loops between installers and accreditors, and expand the use of digital validation tools.”

He also called attention to a growing concern:

“It’s surprising how many engine parts show up on eBay. Managing scrap and non-serialized parts remains one of our biggest vulnerabilities.”

Rob Suhs reinforced the role of industry collaboration:

“If you see something, say something. Let’s shine a light on bad actors — it impacts all of us and, more importantly, our families who fly on these aircraft.”

AI: Accelerating Insight, Not Replacing Oversight

AI has emerged as a powerful enabler of supply chain visibility — not to replace human oversight, but to augment it.

Dan Hopkins of Resilinc explained:

“AI shouldn’t replace verification — it should help you move faster. It accelerates mapping your supply chain so you can uncover the ‘known unknowns.’”

Calvin Anderson of Blue Origin shared how that vision is being put into practice:

“Everywhere humans make repetitive decisions is fair game for AI. We’re working with SmartCert to let AI distinguish the good from the bad before a human ever has to.”

And Fred Short reminded the group that ROI is clear when you measure it against inefficiency:

“If you put a dollar value next to the cost of waste, you’ll justify the move to digital. AI will streamline workflows and make us more resilient.”

Supporting the Sub-Tier Supply Chain

The panelists agreed that transformation must reach every level of the supply chain — not just the top-tier OEMs.

Fred Short noted:

“The big players will invest in technology, but the thousands of small suppliers — many with 15 employees — need help to stay in the game. The industry must support them so they don’t go out of business.”

Dan Hopkins added:

“OEMs must establish direct, trusted relationships with their suppliers — removing barriers and creating a community where compliance and collaboration go hand in hand.”

Damien Buist echoed this from the OEM perspective:

“Smaller suppliers need accessibility. Coalition recommendations are tool-agnostic and voluntary — many can be implemented without significant outlay.”

Practical Steps to Get Started

Each panelist shared one actionable step for organizations ready to strengthen traceability and data integrity:

· Rob Suhs: “Do the basics really, really well. Build relationships, focus on accreditation, and use technology to grow.”

· Fred Short: “Don’t just calculate the cost of doing it. Ask what the cost is of not doing it.”

· Damien Buist: “Review the ASCIC’s 13 recommendations — they offer a roadmap for strengthening vendor accreditation, digitizing documentation, and tracking non-serialized parts.”

· Dan Hopkins: “Map your supply chain. Most organizations don’t know who’s beyond tier two. AI can help accelerate that journey.”

· Calvin Anderson: “When you’ve had a flight anomaly, you understand why traceability matters. Anything that helps put Humpty Dumpty back together again is invaluable.”

Closing Thoughts

The message across the discussion was clear: the future of aerospace documentation depends on connection.

As Lonni Kieffer concluded:

“It’s clear that none of us can do this alone. It’s going to take alignment across every tier of the supply chain to truly make digital traceability real.”