Aerospace Defense Forum

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“Winning Business in Today’s Aerospace Supply Chain”

“Winning Business in Today’s Aerospace Supply Chain: What Small Companies Need to Know”

San Fernando Valley Chapter meeting on March 20

Small companies need to understand the changing dynamics within the aerospace supply chain. What might have worked five or ten years ago, may not win contracts today. To maximize your chances for success, it’s critical to understand not only your prospective customer’s requirements, but also the requirements they face further up in the food chain.

Please join us in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Tuesday, March 20, 7:30–9:00am, when Jim Simpkins, former president of Meggitt Safety Systems and Meggitt Control Systems, will share his perspectives based on selecting small aerospace companies to be part of Meggitt’s supply chain. In addition, his experience of winning business from Tier 1 suppliers like UTAS, provides a valuable perspective for small aerospace manufacturers to understand.

The discussion will cover key challenges and requirements for today’s A&D suppliers, including:
• New Terms and Conditions
• Quality and Delivery expectations (and what happens if you don’t achieve them)
• Lean – it is more about parts than charts
• Customer Satisfaction – not just scorecards
• Providing “services wrapped around products”

The meeting is free for members and $45 ($30 Early Bird until March 13) for non-members. Guests may attend twice for free. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvmar18.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by CohnReznick, City National Bank, and InVista Associates.

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Tour of SpaceX

Tour of SpaceX

OC Chapter meeting in Hawthorne on June 7

Note: This tour is sold out. However, you can register for the wait list.

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.

Join us in Hawthorne on Thursday, June 7, 7:30–9:00am, when we will see one of the most interesting manufacturing facilities in the world. SpaceX performs 80% of the needed manufacturing in-house at the Hawthorne facility, and thus a wide variety of manufacturing processes will be seen, from welding to composites. Engineering is also close to the manufacturing line to quickly handle problems.

The floors and the facility are so clean there is no wall between the 2-level cafeteria and the manufacturing floor. Mission Control is located on the manufacturing floor (with a level floor so employees can see everything). Note the expressions of the workforce – motivated like those of few other companies.

The meeting is free for members (exclusive access until April 9) & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until April 16). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and InVista Associates.

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“Blockchain for the Supply Chain”

“Blockchain for the Supply Chain”

Los Angeles Chapter meeting on March 16

Aerospace and defense are industries characterized by complex products, deep supply chains, and a decades-long aftermarket with multiple, often shifting, participants. Significant investment, effort, and technology have yielded progress in managing these areas, but the need for continued industry growth and efficiency demands more.

Blockchain is an emerging technology being leveraged for industry growth and efficiency. At its core, Blockchain is a transactional record that maintains and records data in a way that allows multiple stakeholders to share access to the same data and information confidently and securely.

Popularized in the world of crypto-currencies, Blockchain has gained increasing attention in manufacturing environments and other business applications. Blockchain offers aerospace and defense companies an intriguing value proposition to augment existing and future technology investments.

Join us in Los Angeles on Friday, March 16, 7:30–9:00am, when Barbara Bickham, CTO, Technology and Entrepreneurship, will reveal that the real value of these investments is in understanding the uplift that can be achieved by integrating Blockchain with other emerging technologies…. Artificial Intelligence, IoT, and Augmented Reality.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until March 9). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adflamar18.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, Chubb, Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers, Exec-Connect, InVista Associates, and the 62 Mile Club.

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“How to Defend Against Economic Espionage”

“How to Defend Against Economic Espionage”

South Bay Chapter meeting in Torrance on March 14

(Note: By popular demand this is the fourth chapter having this presentation.)

You’ve taken all the recommended cybesecurity actions. You have secured ITAR areas. And you welcome tours by potential global customers and suppliers to show off your unique capabilities. Did you know that you could be losing valuable IP just by granting permission to “may I touch”?

Join us in Torrance on Wednesday, March 14, 7:30–9:00am PDT, when we will screen a film produced by the FBI followed by comments by FBI Special Agent Cheney Mak.

Economic espionage is real and securing the information that makes your corporation relevant is essential for its survival.

The event is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until March 7). For more information and to register to attend go to http://adfsbmar18.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The South Bay Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams, California United Bank, Community Bank, and California Manufacturing Technology Consulting.

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“The State of the Art in Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft”

The State of the Art in Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft

DFW Chapter meeting at Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, on March 8

Please join us on Thursday, March 8, 7:30-8:55am when Eldon Metzger, Sr. Business Development Manager, UAS, Bell Helicopter, will give us an overview of the current state of the art in manned and unmanned vertical take-off and landing aircraft, including Bell Helicopter’s V280 Valor program, the V247 unmanned program and the Automatic Pod Transport (APT) autonomous vehicle. We will also hear about Bell’s recent Air Taxi Concept Experience at CES, where Bell previewed their vision of the future of urban air transportation.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members ($40 for non-members, $30 Early Bird until March 1). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfdfwmar18.eventbrite.com. Registration closes 9am CST, Monday, March 5.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter is sponsored by Frost Brown Todd and BellNunnally.

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“Advanced 3D Printing Technologies”

“Advanced 3D Printing Technologies”
A Presentation and Tour at Purple Platypus

Orange County Chapter meeting in Irvine on March 1

Please join us for a presentation and tour of the Purple Platypus Tech Center in Irvine when Peter Montgomery, Senior Applications Engineer, and Gabriel Suppes, Senior Engineer, will update you on the most current 3D printing technologies, including metal 3D printing, FDM 3D printing, and multi-material polyjet 3D Printing.

Come see first-hand why these technologies are considered disruptive to traditional subtractive manufacturing processes such as CNC milling, turning and casting, as well as injection molding.

The tour will include live demos and a presentation of real sample A&D parts. You will leave with a clear understanding of how the Aerospace industry is using 3D printing for applications such as prototyping, manufacturing tools, and end-use parts.

Purple Platypus is a privately-held Southern California company and a preferred dealer of a variety of additive-centric hardware & software. Purple Platypus provides manufacturing businesses with the new additive technologies needed to bring innovative designs to fruition.

Tickets are limited to 50 people on a first-come first-served basis.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until Feb 22). Click here to register to attend the meeting.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter is sponsored by D.A. Davidson & Co., Moss Adams, and Verify.

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“Tax Reform: What A&D Companies Need to Know”

“Tax Reform: What A&D Companies Need to Know”

San Fernando Valley Chapter meeting on February 20

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act results in historic tax changes that will significantly impact aerospace and defense companies. There are many new benefits and limitations to be aware of.

Please join us in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Tuesday, February 20, 7:30–9:00am, when Joshua Yeargin, CPA, Partner, CohnReznick, will review the new 20% deduction for pass-through entities, increase in expensing limits for equipment purchases, limitations on business interest deductions, changes on the use of net operating losses and new opportunities to use the cash method of accounting.

The meeting is free for members and $40 ($30 Early Bird) for non-members. Guest may attend twice for free. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvfeb18.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Fernando Valley chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by CohnReznick, City National Bank, and InVista Associates.

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“The Anatomy of Problem Solving to Win”

“The Anatomy of Problem Solving to Win”

Los Angeles Chapter meeting on February 16

Will you be broken by your challenges or will you conquer them and your industry in one masterstroke? The answer is entirely in how you generate new ideas, and successfully implementing the right idea.

The aerospace industry is currently facing a new wave of challenges and opportunities. New manufacturing tools, new markets, new competition, new government requirements, and new energy options will shape the aerospace industry with a higher tempo than we’re used to. To stay healthy in this business we need to focus on well-thought-out projects and implementing them effectively.

Join us in Los Angeles on Friday, February 16, 7:30–9:00am, when Armin T. Ellis, Ph.D., Founder, Exploration Institute will talk about the anatomy of a high quality problem solving strategy and the trends, and the pitfalls that most projects experience, and how to overcome them.

A second part will be interactive and focused on the real challenges and opportunities you’re working on, with an emphasis on how to survive the collision between the need to change for the long term and the immediate need to build predictability for a strong organization.

All participants are encouraged to have a project in mind that they’d like to work through during this presentation. Take a few moments to let Armin know what you’re working on via this link (https://www.exploration.institute/adforum).

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members. For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adflafeb18.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, InVista Associates, and the 62 Mile Club

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“A&D Family-Owned Businesses: Surviving the Test of Time”

“A&D Family-Owned Businesses: Surviving the Test of Time”

AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on February 9

In the Aerospace and Defense world, the words “Family-owned business” often conjure up an image of mom-and-pop, small-scale operations. While it is true that most family businesses are small businesses, about a third of the Fortune Global 500 companies are founder or family controlled.

Over 80% of private companies in Arizona grossing over $5 million in annual revenue are family-owned. Family-owned businesses are a very important part of the A&D activity hence the economy and they face some critical hurdles in the years ahead, especially in the area of owner succession. Two thirds of all private businesses are owned by “baby boomers,” the oldest of whom are now reaching their mid-seventies and with retirement, are pushing Arizona into what could be characterized as a “transition crisis.”

Please join us on February 9 (one day later than our normal meeting date), 7:30-9:00am, when Mr. Randal Breaux, President, Family Business Tycoon, will drill down on the special challenges that family-owned business owners face and what they can do to beat the odds – build enduring companies that provide the foundation for some of tomorrow’s greatest American families. It will include case studies with specifics on avoiding liquidation, driving business value, and creating wealth.

The meeting is free for members ($30 for non-members until February 2, $40 thereafter). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazfeb18.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The Arizona Chapter of The A&D Forum is sponsored by Moss Adams and National Bank of Arizona.