 |
|
|---|
|
|
 |
By Bill Lewandowski, AIA Vice President, Supplier Management For the second consecutive year, the Supplier Management Council is focusing its 2007 meeting agendas on major issues affecting suppliers. This process began with supplier issues workshops last October at the Fall SMC meeting in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The workshops identified concerns that suppliers were having in their companies, policy issues with government procurement and contracting regulations, and relationships with customers. The SMC Executive Committee in January reviewed the issues and began developing action plans to address them. The issues were divided into five supplier categories:
SMC Organizes Suppliers on Trade Mission to India By Varun Nikore, AIA Director, Supplier Management Members of AIA's Supplier Management Council completed a first-ever trade mission to India in December, culminating in one-on-one meetings with Indian suppliers in a nation that holds much promise for the United States aerospace industry. Focused on supplier-to-supplier interactions, 28 participants representing 18 member companies looked to set up possible joint ventures and other agreements with India's suppliers. Several U.S. primes also attended to expand and diversify their supply bases. Offset obligations are a key reason for exploring emerging markets in which larger aerospace and defense purchases are made. Although the SMC has taken member companies to the Paris and Farnborough Air Shows for the past seven years, several companies have participated in a number of other marketing events abroad. The trade mission to India, however, went several steps further by engaging foreign suppliers in an increasingly active way. Why India? India was chosen as the focus of the association's first trade mission because it holds much promise in both the civil and defense markets, based on GDP growth of more than 8 percent since 2003. On the civil side, India has one of the largest aircraft backlogs of any nation in the world. In defense, the nation is on a fast track to upgrade its aircraft fleets. India is expected to purchase more than $10 billion in defense products annually for the next decade. One of the largest opportunities for U.S. companies is India's impending purchase of 126 multi-role combat aircraft on which Lockheed Martin and Boeing are expected to bid. Opportunities on both sides are enormous, and suppliers will have a large part to play because the Indian infrastructure can't support the pace of expansion. The estimated 200 to 300 suppliers in the country will undoubtedly have to partner with foreign suppliers to gain knowledge of modern manufacturing processes and methods. What we accomplished There were many benefits to the suppliers involved in the trade mission. In New Delhi, suppliers met with key government officials from the Ministry of Defense and External Affairs to hear directly about where both opportunities and impediments lie. Also, in both New Delhi and Bangalore, AIA members were given important presentations on the dynamics of the Indian procurement system and government operations. Perhaps the most tangible benefits in attending were meeting and networking with current aerospace and defense suppliers as well as taking a tour at India's government-owned prime, Hindustan Aeronautics, Ltd. A survey issued to participants shortly after their return tells it all — more than 86 percent indicated that they expect to sign a joint-venture or other agreement with an Indian supplier within one year. 2007 Associate Member/SMC Events
Spring 2007 SMC Meeting, March 19-21, San Antonio, Texas 47th Paris Air Show, June 18-26, Le Bourget Airport Summer 2007 SMC Meeting, July 24-27, Colorado Springs, Colo. Fall 2007 SMC Meeting, Oct. 16-18, Atlanta, Ga Northeast Regional Meeting, Sept. 20-21, East Hartford, Conn. Host: Pratt & Whitney SMC: 10 Years and Counting AIA's Supplier Management Council in 2007 is celebrating 10 years of leadership on behalf of America's aerospace suppliers. Formed with 20 pioneering members, a decade later the council is a mature body of strength and influence in the aerospace and defense industry, bolstered by a dynamic roster of 175 AIA associate members. The newest members are Cristek Interconnects, Inc., EDAG Inc., ION Corporation, Reyes Machining, and Signal International. |
Copyright © 2008 Aerospace Industries Association. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy