Lessons Learned after 40 Years in Aerospace and Defense

Jack R. Harris General Manager, PDES Inc. Director, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Retired Rockwell Collins

My career on a page:
Education: BSME and MSEM Started with Collins Radio Company in 1968 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Four years in USAF during Viet Nam starting in 1969

Returned to Collins in Cedar Rapids in 1973 to continue my engineering career Transferred to Florida in 1981 with General Aviation Engineering Returned to Cedar Rapids in 1987 to launch a mechanical design and analysis section for Radar/Sensor Products Moved to Advanced Technology and Engineering in 1990 to lead transition of CAD/CAE for Commercial Avionics In 1996, I moved from Engineering to Manufacturing Operations, andretired September 30, 2011

Picked up a few nuggets along the way

HRs performance review solutions are always science based and much better than the last one It is possible to fire your boss just be careful! Manufacturing is not as easy as it appears Understand the level of information needed and what triggers emotion during briefings Technology solutions must be sold to senior levels with business performance in mind not the technology

One final Lesson Learned: U.S. Manufacturing is positioned to be the engine of economic recovery and growth

NACFAMs Assessment of the SME Manufacturers About 300,000 American Manufacturers, mostly Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) Manufacturers who:
Generate most new manufacturing jobs Cannot easily access Government Programs Cant get credit even when business is there Need help to become sustainable / green Dont get help to commercialize R&D or for improving manufacturing processes Have trouble finding qualified workers Must learn how to be more valuable suppliers Have significant global cost disadvantages

 Aerospace Manufacturing is Americas Technology Advantage

At the vanguard of technology, R&D, innovation and productivity for the last 100 years

Aerospace manufacturing, is vital to the national economy and national security Creates secondary economic effects
Supports service-based firms Generates positive balance of trade

Offers a real opportunity to the SMEs with the Primes and OEMs looking to out source

Statistics Support the Robustness of US Manufacturing

2009 data show the U.S. manufacturing output in excess of $3.0 trillion

Nearly double that of thirty years earlier

Manufacturing employment during the same period dropped 30% Researchers have reported that for every manufacturing dollar from China the U.S. delivers two

Historically small businesses are the lifeblood of job creation.

99.7% 64% 13x

of all employer businesses of net new jobs

more patents per employee than large firms

8

New and young businesses1

40m 20% 1/2

1 New businesses refer to firms less than 1 year old and Young Businesses less than 5 years old

jobs in past 25 years

of gross job creation businesses fail within 5 years

Level the Playing Field to Improve SME Global Competitiveness

Technology enabled products and processes help expand global market reach
Collaboration and tool interoperability will feed improved business performance Resultant productivity improvements will balance competitors with lower cost labor

SMEs Need Help

R&D investment in improving energy efficiencies Facilitate out sourcing not off shoring Create a business environment that is conducive to manufacturing growth Enable the workforce pipeline to provide needed resources

U.S. Manufacturing SMEs must Step Up to meet Expectations

Large companies are becoming systems integrators Looking to supply chains to become a valued members of the extended enterprise Supply chain sustainment becomes a vital piece of national security and economic recovery SMEs are the foundation of the critical manufacturing infrastructure

How can the Manufacturing SMEs be Helped?

Establish support and direction to appropriate capital sources

Link with Federal development dollars; i.e., SBIR Create advocacy for applying R&D to traditional and renewable energy issues Enable matchmaking with university technology owners to reduce the impact of retiring workforce

Two Components to Sustain SME SUccess

Provide resources to SMEs which can continue to enhance business performance
Provide Education reform to fill pipeline with trained workforce

Filling the Technical Workforce Pipeline is a Necessity

China graduates 600,000 in engineering/year
US graduates 70,000

STEM is not the major of choice too hard

Manufacturing careers have the stigma of low tech and low paying

Education reform needed to make a difference in students desire to learn

It is my hope to help manufacturing grow through:

Create a focus on Manufacturing within PDES Inc.

Launch a private company focused on economic growth to help manufacturing

In Conclusion:
My short game still needs work I have two cars in my shop that need finished My wife is convinced I have failed retirement
Manufacturing wellness and growth is critical to the U.S. Economy I want to help!

Thank You!
Contact Info:
Jack R. Harris www.pdesinc.org www.iowainnovationcorporation.com harris.jackr@gmail.com 319-432-3407