Smart Wearables for Safer and Traceable Aircraft Maintenance: An Implementation, Safety, and Traceability Framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.050Keywords:
Aircraft maintenance, Implementation framework, Safety, Smart wearables, TraceabilityAbstract
Aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) is undergoing rapid digital transformation. However, the implementation of smart wearables in regulated maintenance environments remains insufficiently specified, particularly regarding safety, documentation control, and audit grade traceability. This study aims to develop and apply an integrated implementation-safety-traceability framework to evaluate the deployment of smart wearables in Philippine MRO facilities. Using a retrospective document-based case study design, the study analyzed controlled organizational records, operational logs, quality and safety documents, and traceability evidence without direct human participation. Findings show that the implementation of wearables is primarily a socio-technical governance challenge rather than a simple technology adoption issue. Determinant salience was strongest in workflow fit, interoperability, inner-setting readiness, and implementation-process discipline. Implementation outcomes were conditional: feasibility depended on infrastructure reliability and integration stability; fidelity depended on controlled workflow execution and documentation continuity; penetration remained limited to selected task families; and sustainability was strongest where wearables were embedded in procedures and support routines. Safety analysis showed that documentation and sign-off deviations coexisted with safe recovery behaviors when escalation pathways and continuity controls were present. Regulatory-traceability fit was strongest where version linkage, sign-off integrity, and cross-system evidence continuity were preserved. The proposed Wearable MRO Readiness Index indicated moderate overall readiness, supporting phased, compliance-compatible scale-up rather than immediate enterprise-wide rollout. The study offers a practical framework for MRO managers, regulators, and quality assurance personnel to assess readiness, identify risks, and guide the responsible implementation of wearable technologies.
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