PNAA aerospace manufacturing conference visitor’s guide

The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) hosts its 17th annual conference Feb. 12-15, 2018, in Greater Seattle at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood, Washington. Featuring aircraft program updates and networking opportunities with major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tier suppliers, the event expects to draw more than 600 participants from 350 companies in 10 countries. Fiona McKay, PNAA’s business development director, offers the following details to potential attendees and sponsors.

AM&D: What’s new this year?

FM: Our theme is Leading Through Change: Managing Transformation, focusing on technologies that enable companies to embrace innovation, optimize efficiencies, and reduce costs. Some of the technologies – automation, robotics, digital technologies, and data analytics – come under the Industry 4.0 umbrella, complementing developments in advanced materials and manufacturing. Our workshops will focus on technical and management challenges, supporting our main function of delivering market intelligence and industry insights.

AM&D: Why should aerospace suppliers attend the annual conference?

FM: This is the first large aerospace conference of the year, letting attendees gather the knowledge and connections that ensure a successful 2018.

We bring executives together from across the U.S. and around the globe to share market intelligence and industry forecasts, review trends, and address global supply chain issues. The four-day event starts with factory tours and progresses to presentations and panels from leading industry players.

Attendees include C-suite and senior executives in business development, strategic planning, supply chain, and procurement. Because we’re in the heart of the aerospace cluster, we attract foreign delegations to come to network in Boeing’s backyard. B2B meetings for buyers and sellers in manufacturing offer an opportunity to establish business relationships, and our exhibit hall enables companies to showcase their products and services.