Aerospace Defense Forum

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A Tour of Universal Laser Systems

A Tour of Universal Laser Systems
A Laser Focus to Material Processing in A&D

AZ Chapter meeting and tour in Scottsdale on November 9

The past two years have seen industrial lasers outperform the machine tool sector, with solid single-digit growth in annual revenues. A surge in excimer laser processing of new model smartphone displays, expanding laser additive manufacturing of aircraft engine components, and significant rises in micro processing using ultrafast-pulse are major examples of growth segments. Industrial lasers are key components in automated material processing systems. As the manufacturing sector turns more toward Industry 4.0 and the IoT, shifting from centralized to decentralized manufacturing, production methods need to automatically adjust to fluctuating supply chain demands. State-of-the-art processing equipment, controlled by sensors and computers on the Internet, are now being implemented, and lasers, by their very nature, will likely be the adaptable energy source of choice.

Join us in Scottsdale on Thursday November 9 for a presentation and tour of Universal Laser Systems, Inc. who is leading the charge with a solely owned, custom-built, state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing facility in Scottsdale where they manufacture both lasers and laser systems. Following the presentation, Universal will provide a tour of their laser system manufacturing floor as well as a series of laser material processing demonstrations.

The meeting is free for members and guests ($30 Early Bird for non-members, $40 after November 2). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfaznov17.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.

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Tour of Southwest Airlines Network Operations Center

Tour of Southwest Airlines Network Operations Center

DFW Chapter meeting on November 9

Please join us on Thur, November 9, 1:30-2:30pm for a tour of Southwest Airlines’ $30 million, 50,000 square foot network operations center where more than 230 flight dispatchers work alongside crew operations and customer service coordinators to resolve issues in real time.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members ($30 for non-members until November 2). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfdfwnov17.eventbrite.com.Registration closes at 12 midnite, Monday, Nov 8.

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

The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter is sponsored by BellNunnally and the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI).

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Western Museum of Flight Tour

Western Museum of Flight Tour

South Bay Chapter Meeting on Nov 8

Please join us on Wed, Nov 8, 7:30-9:00am in Torrance, CA for a tour of the Western Museum of Flight. You will hear a short verbal history of the museum, the museum’s charter, its mission, its activities, a short history of the Torrance Airport and a very brief discussion of what you will see on the tour. You will also hear about the museum’s goals for expansion and being housed in a modern museum building at the east end of property.

The Western Museum of Flight is a non-profit, educational institution dedicated to preserving and displaying aircraft history and artifacts of Southern California’s aviation heritage. The Air Museum’s educational programs give children an opportunity to see and touch the airplanes that made aviation history. The Air Museum offers an inside look at completed and in-progress aircraft restoration projects. The Western Museum of Flight’s collection includes numerous Warbirds, aircraft and target drones, piston and jet aircraft engines, aircraft components, aircraft ejection seats, World War II instruments, aircrew accessories, and an extensive model aircraft collection.

The event is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until Nov 1). For more information and to register to attend go to http://adfsbnov17.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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“Are Drones the New First Responders?”

“Are Drones the New First Responders?”

Orange County Chapter meeting on November 2

We all recognize that first responders have a challenging and vital role. They are called to respond to multiple incidents simultaneously, with little to no advance notice, and often to remote locations where time is a critical component of situation evaluation and mitigation.

Flying Lion was formed to address these challenges, offering Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Departments on-demand rapid aerial assessment and imaging services with remotely operated copters with built in HD and infrared cameras. “Eyes on the Scene” applications include emergency response, active shooter, SWAT, fire, crowd observation, natural disasters, search and special events.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, November 2, 7:30–9:00am, when Barry Brennan, Founder and President of Flying Lion will discuss the company’s role with public safety, a brief history of UAS, the current FAA requirements, and the future of UAS.

You will find this to be an interesting look at how technology is being integrated to significantly enhance public safety and the capability of first responders, and maybe see opportunities for technology integration by your company.

The meeting is free for members ($40 non-members). 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, Hein & Associates, and Verify.

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Grow Your Aerospace & Defense Business in Arizona and Beyond

“Grow Your Aerospace & Defense Business in Arizona and Beyond:
A Panel Discussion on State, Institutional and Industry Insights”

AZ Chapter meeting in Phoenix on October 19

Join us in Phoenix on Thursday October 19 for a full panel discussion on how to get more aerospace and defense business, the state of the industry in Arizona, available tools and resources.

1. Industry: Trends and Technology Roadmaps – Finding and Doing Business with Primes – Best Business practices for success

2. Financing: With a focus on ways of obtaining financing rather than specific programs (sales pitch) – Access to capital, loans, guarantees and insurance – Conventional Bank Lending into the A&D industry – Letters of credit, import/export from a banking perspective – Trade Credit Insurance and the ExIm Bank

3. State and Export Assistance: Grants – Subsidies – Incentive Programs – Resources

4. Tools and Resources: City and Local State Economic Development Programs and Support

The meeting is free for members and guests ($30 Early Bird for non-members, $40 after October 12). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazoct17.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.

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“A New Source of Skilled Workers”

“A New Source of Skilled Workers”

San Fernando Valley Chapter meeting on October 17

Your business consultant says “I surveyed your employees and 50% of them have decided to retire between today and the next five years!” What now? Maybe that isn’t in your company, but in the real world it’s TRUE for the entire A&D supply chain. That reality is stacked on top of today’s crisis in finding skilled workers. This month the A&D Forum is presenting a model and tactics that will change the paradigm and keep talent flowing into your company/customers when other companies are contracting from the lack of world class employees.

Please join us in Sherman Oaks, CA, on Tuesday, October 17, 7:30–9:00am, when David Goodreau, Chairman of the Small Manufacturers Association of CA and President of the Small Manufacturers Institute (SMI), will present a regional solution that engages growing manufacturers in a sustainable talent development process. This framework, being created by SMI, Goodwill SoCal and Hope Street Group, is centered around a new Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Los Angeles with micro-regional manufacturing councils throughout LA County. The heart of the Manufacturing Hub will be the large-scale credentialing of world-class entry level workers capable of fast track learning and retention.

This framework restores leadership to industry associations and groups such as the Aerospace and Defense Forum to sustain and create value through this collaboration of industry, academia and private business resource providers. We hope you will join us in a glimpse of new opportunities from connecting growing manufacturing companies with the employees that will empower the economic changes that are coming.

The meeting is free for members ($30 for non-members, free for guests for 2 visits). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsfvoct17.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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“Cybersecurity Smarts: A 6-Step Plan for Cost-Effectively Strengthening your Cyber Defenses”

“Cybersecurity Smarts: A 6-Step Plan for Cost-Effectively Strengthening your Cyber Defenses”

Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter October 12 meeting

With system hacks, including the recent intrusion at Equifax, in the new almost daily, companies need a plan for securing their systems.

Please join us at Eurocopter in Grand Prairie on Thur, October 12, (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30-9:00am) when Kelce S. Wilson of Grable Martin Fulton will present a graduated plan for intelligently improving an organization’s security posture will be discussed, starting from effectively free things to do to cut risk, up through spending serious money to try making a system fairly bulletproof. It’s prioritized, so organizations can move as far up the ladder as they wish, based on risk tolerance and budget.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members ($30 for non-members until October 5). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfdfwoct17.eventbrite.com.

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

The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter is sponsored by BellNunnally and the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI).

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“How to break into the OEMs and Tier 1s as a small business”

“How to break into the OEMs and Tier 1s as a small business”

Orange County Chapter meeting on October 5

Westworld Associates was formed in 1978 by a retired executive from Lockheed. The primary purpose was to provide sales and marketing services to companies with a desire to expand their customer base as well as to grow their current customer base within the US aerospace and defense industries.

The idea was to offer a cost-effective alternative to exploring new opportunities within the US aerospace and defense industries.

The company works directly with their clients to help develop sales and marketing plans with a focus on target customers, programs, key decision makers and execution strategies.

Today the team at Westworld Associates continues to provide support in the development of sales and marketing plans with the inclusion of certain markets in Europe and Asia.

Join us in Irvine on Thursday, October 5, 7:30– 9:00am, when Robbie Robinson, CEO of Westworld Associates will discuss the company’s approach to penetrating new customers within the US, European and Asian aerospace markets with a focus on the aerostructures segment of the industry.

The meeting is free for members ($40 non-members). 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, Hein & Associates, and Verify.

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“Motivo: Engineering Innovation across Diverse Industries”

“Motivo: Engineering Innovation across Diverse Industries”

Los Angeles Chapter meeting on October 20

Motivo Engineering is a product engineering company focused on accelerating product development in the mobility, energy, Ag tech and medical market segments. Motivo’s clients range from Airbus to Silicon Valley garage startups, and projects ranging from autonomous person carrying drones to next gen fitness machines.

For example, Motivo worked with a partnership including a leading aircraft interior manufacturer, an in-flight entertainment (IFE) provider, and a design studio to develop a next-generation premium-class airline seating experience. Motivo’s role was to accelerate the development process by rapidly engineering and prototyping a complete seating pod including a lie-flat seat, sliding tray table, and articulated monitor. The first prototype of this seating system was needed within four months to meet the planned unveiling at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Germany. Motivo overcame numerous challenges during the build and integration process and delivered the system on-time for the AIX show.

How does Motivo develop technology that disrupts automotive manufacturing, air travel and the agriculture/food industry?

Join us in Los Angeles on Friday, October 20, 7:30–9:00am, when Praveen Penmetsa, CEO/founder of Motivo, details how a 40-person team can fulfill the distinct requirements of very diverse industries from a user and technology standpoint, and still provide the technical depth and innovation needed to succeed in these audacious projects.

The meeting is free for members & $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until October 13). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adflaoct17.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