PNAA aerospace manufacturing conference visitor’s guide

When the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA) hosts its 18th annual conference in February, the emphasis will be on helping aerospace suppliers reduce costs and increase productivity. The event features original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier, plus Tier 1 to 4 companies presenting global market outlooks, collaboration success stories, and best practices.

Brian Canfield, PNAA’s new business development director, explains what potential attendees and sponsors can expect.

Aerospace Manufacturing & Design (AM&D): What’s this year’s theme?

Brian Canfield (BC): “Soaring to Success: Productivity and Affordability in the NExT Aerospace Era,” is about getting suppliers ready for increased production requirements, and setting up an organization to get costs down in a smart way. The New and Expanding Technologies (NExT) focus refers to cutting-edge technologies outside of traditional aerospace, such as autonomous flight, electric propulsion, supersonic private jets, hypersonic planes, and commercial space opportunities. New Space – with participants such as Blue Origin and SpaceX – is generating a lot activity and excitement in the industry. It’s projected to be a multi-billion-dollar market, with the need for hundreds of new suppliers. We want to help get this new and growing supply chain connected.

AM&D: Why attend the conference?

BC: We are at a crossroads in aerospace, moving from traditional methods and thinking to more entrepreneurship. It’s partly generational. Large numbers of aerospace employees are retiring in the not-too-distant future. There’s a new upswell of people entering the market who think differently. It’s an interesting transition and dealing with it can be daunting. As an organization, PNAA is responding to those changes by growing its board of directors with people who represent those changes. NExT will expand the market options for existing suppliers while serving an additional community that is new to aerospace.

AM&D: Who are the presenters?

BC: Market analysts Dr. Kevin Michaels of AeroDynamic Advisory and Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group will return to share their insights on where the aerospace market is headed. We will also have speakers from Boeing and Airbus as well as GKN and Triumph, Oerlikon, and Parker Aerospace. Rolls-Royce is going to talk about electric propulsion; UTC Aerospace will talk about increasing productivity and affordability, and Rockwell Automation will discuss how to use Industry 4.0 to drive efficiency and cost savings. There will be local and international speakers, plus panel discussions with question-and-answer opportunities.

AM&D: What’s the best way to attend?

BC: Fly into Sea-Tac Airport, rent a car, or take Uber or Lyft to Lynnwood. It’s also possible there will be Alaska, United, and Southwest Airlines passenger flights to Everett, Washington’s Paine Field early in the new year.

PNAA
https://www.pnaa.net

About the author: Eric Brothers is senior editor of AM&D. He can be reached at 216.393.0228 or ebrothers@gie.net.