Compiled ByDeborah Austin A new Service and Parts Management (SPM) solutions suite from Manugistics is designed to help aftermarket service providers and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operations synchronize service support chains. The solutions target service providers to -- and service divisions of -- firms in aerospace/defense, automotive, construction, farm machinery, chemicals/energy, communications, high-tech and transportation. The SPM suite uses supplier-relationship management and supply-chain management technologies to address service support chain processes -- for example, service/parts related planning, sourcing, repair and delivery. Its collaborative production management capabilities can help companies allocate resources between production and service, says Manugistics, an Enterprise Profit Solutions provider headquartered in Rockville, Md. Several U.S. Department of Defense entities -- including the Air Force's Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Pathfinder project -- are deploying Manugistics' SPM solutions.