CMTC Leadership Summit a Big Draw for Aerospace and Defense Suppliers
Torrance, CA -- Nearly 180 Southern California aerospace and defense suppliers and industry partners packed into the Holiday Inn in Torrance on a gloomy day last week to hear top industry leaders, economists, and government officials illuminate the path towards prosperity in a rapidly changing industry. The Aerospace and Defense Suppliers Leadership Summit 2010, hosted by California Manufacturing Technology Consulting with partners such as Boeing, CSA, AIA, and UCLA, offered attendees both practical tips and a big picture analysis.
Speakers at the event urged suppliers to collaborate with others in the supply chain and institute lasting quality improvements in order to effectively compete. California suppliers are facing cuts in their workforce as the U.S. Department of Defense trims spending and alters the kind of equipment that will be procured in the future.
"We still have a lot of potential, but we have to get more forceful in communicating that aerospace is still here," Jack Kyser, Chief Economic Advisor with the Southern California Association of Governments, who gave the keynote address. "We need to start fighting back."
One key way to do that is to improve quality and on-time delivery, Ray Wersel, Boeing Defense Space & Security, said in his presentation to the packed crowd. Wersel also urged suppliers to collaborate on engineering and delivering subassemblies-such as an airplane's "black box"-to help manufacturers meet accelerated production schedules for defense and commercial products. Other speakers in their talks discussed how market research and mathematical modeling could help improve performance.
Gianpaolo von Nacher, of the Santa Fe Springs-based western division of Philadelphia Gear who attended the conference, said he appreciated hearing from colleagues who are also making system-wide improvements. "Listening to people who have gone through some pain lessens mine," he said.
Barbara Levine of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) praised the conference for having a well-rounded roster of speakers. "I work with many businesses in California and this is one of the best conferences I have attended," she said. David Braunstein, President and CEO of CMTC said that he was pleased that so many firms attended the event and predicted that this summit would be the first of many.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING, TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING
A private, nonprofit corporation established in 1992, CMTC is an affiliate of NIST MEP, under the Federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, a network of more than 60 centers across the country that provide assistance to manufacturers. CMTC serves Los Angeles to San Diego/Imperial County. CMTC provides high value consulting services for improving management and production of high tech and traditional small and medium-size manufacturers. CMTC provides consulting services in the practice areas of Strategic Business, Lean Enterprise, Information Technology, Energy & GHG Emissions Reduction, Quality Improvement, Distribution and Supply Chain Management. For more information, visit www.cmtc.com.
