ACM UPDATE

August 31, 2007

A S -- 1 -- 0 8 3 1 7 A S - 1 - 0 8 3 1 7 A S 1 0 8 3 1 7

Aerospace Components Manufacturers, Inc. P.O. Box 736, 1090 Elm Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860) 513-3205 FAX (860) 529-5001 www.aerospacecomponents.org E-mail: alsamuel@acm-ct.org
The ACM Update & Calendar (and previous issues) are also available for viewing on the ACM website.

ACM News & Special Events

ACM is entering into an active and productive season, please save these dates and participate for these special activities!

September 10th -- Golf Outing, Suffield Country Club Sold Out!! September 25th -- Business Development Team Meeting
Guest Speaker: Craig Musson, P&W Director, Commodity Management

October 1st ACM has contracted with CBIA to update the

Wage & Benefits Survey of ACM Member Firms --More Detail in WorkForce Development

November 16th Pierre Chao (Director, Center for Strategic and International Studies)
has been rescheduled and will present Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for the Aerospace Supplier Base, followed by a Members Reception University of Hartford 2:30pm Registration Info will be forwarded to members

November 27 -- Business Development Team Meeting

Guest Speaker: Russell Stokes, GE Engines, General Manager of Global Sourcing accompanied by Darrell Mueller, Manager, Strategic Sourcing

During the late Fall Technology Workshop addressing Deburring Innovations March 21, 2008 ACM TradeShow, Hartford/Windsor Marriott Hotel

Business Development
The Business Development Team meets on Tuesday, September 25th at 8:15am at CERC, Rocky Hill. This meeting will feature guest speaker, Craig Musson, Pratt & Whitney, Director, Commodity Management. Additionally, Habcos Kristin Muschett will discuss partnering opportunities specifically available to small (or woman owned) firms. Please plan to attend.

Progressive Manufacturing
The Progressive Manufacturing Team met on August 28th at the CCAT (CT Center for Advanced Technology) Innovation Center to provide members the opportunity to understand CCATs efforts in modeling and simulation; approximately 17 ACM members have already taken advantage of this special technical resource. Tom Scotton, CCAT, Manager, Modeling and Simulation, conducted the briefing. In offering an overview of the CCAT charter, Tom stated CCAT works to strengthen technology-led competitiveness via collaboration with industry, government and academia. In Modeling & Simulation, CCATs approach is to buy (or license) advanced software tools, learn how to use them, determine their effectiveness, provide feedback to the software developers and finally, assist aerospace supplier firms in understanding and implementing these software tools. The Modeling & Simulation activity receives funding under the U.S. Air Forces (NALI) National Aerospace Leadership Initiative; Tom indicated CCAT can offer support at no cost other than the firms own time spent in working with CCAT, as long as the firms meet the Air Forces eligibility requirements. Tom introduced Brian Kindilien to discuss the Machining Process Modeling capability. Brian described the basic process, common in industry, as taking customer provided digital data (describing a component), processing the data and sending the finish processed information on to the machine tool. CCATs goal is to improve the overall programming and machining process, resulting in shorter machine cycle time, improvements in material removal rates and increased cutting tool life. To accomplish such improvements, an advanced simulation module is being integrated into the basic programming process in a seamless fashion requiring minimal additional effort on the part of the N/C programmer. Brian indicating this approach is called the Machining Game Changer and is being developed using the Third Wave Inc. Production Module 3D paired with the broadly used MasterCam software; its capability is currently limited to 2-5 axis milling operations. Brian is soliciting companies willing to act as a beta test location for this software concept see detailed information below. Similar work has begun on a grinding simulation, a broaching simulation and an abrasive water jet operation. Tom next provided an overview of other activities, specifically Virtual Factory Modeling and electronic Value Stream Mapping. Applied together, such software allows the user to visually see improvements in the design, or organization, of a single manufacturing cell or an entire factory floor. Changes to the virtual design allow for analysis of potential improvements in floor space, process throughput and/or worker utilization. Scotton offered ACM members a Digital Manufacturing Assessment, at no cost! This assessment is intended to offer insight to make your internal digital processes more effective; the analysis examines your firms means of transitioning from a customers part drawing to the cutting machine. A copy of CCATs presentation is available on the ACM website library; go to Member Login, File Library, Progressive Manufacturing and download: CCAT-Lean Team Mtg 8-28-07.pdf For additional information, please contact CCATs: Tom Scotton, Manager, Modeling & Simulation, 860-282-4216 or Brian Kindilien, 860-282-4215

CCAT Looking for ACM Members Interested in Reducing Machining Cycle Times The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) supports the development of a manufacturing software technology they call the Machining Game Changer; it links a unique physics-based tool path optimization technology with computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. The optimization software is Production Module 3D from Third Wave Systems (www.thirdwavesys.com), and the CAM software is Mastercam from CNC Software, Inc. (www.mastercam.com). It is CCATs belief that this pairing of software can result in 10-60% reduction in machine tool cycle times on 2-5-axis milling production parts and is a unique technology. The Machining Game Changer has reached "beta" stage, when it is operating with most of its functionality, and is ready for user feedback and evaluation. CCAT is looking for companies willing to use and evaluate the technology, free of charge, for a short time. There are several qualifications for becoming a beta site: Company must be a manufacturer of aerospace components, supplier to DoD, or commercial supplier to aerospace OEMs. Must be a user, current on maintenance, of Mastercam (at least ver. X2 MR1 SP1) Agree to install the technology on a personal computer capable of running modern CAD/CAM software Commit to running the approved Machining Game Changer tool path on the machine tool for validation that the code runs and the cycle time is improved Agree to installing, evaluating, and providing feedback on the software to CCAT within a 60day period For more information on qualifications and details, please contact: Brian Kindilien Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT) 222 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 Phone: 860-282-4215 Email: bkindilien@ccat.us

The Teams next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 2nd in the Conference Room of CCATs new facility at 222 Pitkin Street, East Hartford (note: this is a different location from the August meeting). The focus of this meeting will be the UTC Solumina Supplier Quality Assurance system. An overview of Solumina will be presented by Pratt & Whitneys Javier Soto; Scott Prentiss, P&W, Manager of Quality Technology and Ken Passay will also participate. Please plan to attend!

Consolidated Purchasing
The Consolidated Purchasing Team will hold its next meeting on Thursday, September 6th at 8:00am at Kamatics, Bloomfield. Suppliers having current Agreements with ACM are: Shop Supplies, Abrasives, Cutting Tools, etc Supplier: Turtle & Hughes Key Contact: Lynn Haas Dave Howard Telephone: 203-497-1559 203-497-1555

Raw Materials: Nickel, Cobalt, Aerodyne Alloys Kirk Smallidge 860-508-1271 Titanium Sheet, Plate & Bar Stock

Workforce Development
ACM has commissioned CBIA to conduct a survey of members regarding Compensation and Benefits Practices; the survey will also include a comparison with the CY2006 ACM survey. Each member firm will receive their survey package from CBIA on October 1st, with compiled results mailed to respondents on December 1st. The information you provide will be held in complete confidence by CBIA and results will not be identifiable with any single company. This is a unique survey as it only addresses our local Connecticut aerospace industry please be sure your company responds! The WorkForce Development Team met on August 29th to begin the Fall season of our training program. To start things off, ACM will schedule sessions in BluePrint Reading (to be hosted at Unison Engine Components, Manchester), GD&T, Use of Measurement Tools and Finding Root Cause. We are looking for members to host the GD&T, Measurement Tools and Root Cause classes; please contact the ACM Office if you wish to host at your facility. Additional classes may be scheduled to meet your needs; again, please contact the ACM Office to request such. The curriculum of all available courses may be downloaded from the ACM website library; go to Member Login, File Library, Workforce Development and download: WFD Course Syllabus
a-o Sep, 2005.pdf.

In addition to the new courses indicated above, the following courses have been scheduled and completely filled:

Course

Date (Start) 9/5/2007 9/6/2007 9/18/2007 9/19/2007 9/20/2007

No. of Days 12 12 7 7 7

Date (End) 1/9/2008

Host Company or Location Kamatics

Participants

First Line Supervisors Development First Line Supervisors Development Use of Measurement Tools Use of Measurement Tools Use of Measurement Tools

Kamatics Kamatics Barnes Windsor Barnes Windsor Barnes Windsor

1/17/2008 Kamatics 10/30/2007 Barnes Windsor 10/31/2007 Barnes Windsor 11/1/2007 Barnes Windsor

Judy Resnick of CBIA attended the Teams meeting to brief progress on CBIAs ongoing Federal Grant and discussed the Certification Curriculum and the CNC Simulation activities. ACM members are currently participating on an advisory basis offering valuable input to assure the program meet our specific industry needs. Additional requests from CBIA for ACM inputs will be forthcoming and sent to our members. For detail information on this program, please contact Judy Resnick at CBIA at 860244-1937. ACM has indicated its intent to participate in the 2008 Manufacture Your Future Careers Expo II, scheduled for half-days on June 3, 4, and 5, 2008 at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford. This event is directed towards high school students from all over Connecticut with a goal of generating their interest in pursuing future careers in manufacturing. ACM will advise you on the progress of the planning and seek your support and assistance as plans advance. The WorkForce Development Teams next meeting takes place on Thursday, October 4th at 8:00am at Unison Engine Components, Manchester.

News from ACM Members

Please forward significant company news and announcements to Allen Samuel at alsamuel@acm-ct.org for posting on the ACM website and publication in the UPDATE.

Aero-Craft LLC renamed Volvo Aero Connecticut

Effective September 1st, ACM member Aero-Craft LLC will begin operating under the name Volvo Aero Connecticut, LLC. Additionally, the firm will formally open its new 33,000 sq ft addition to their current 40,000 sq ft building at 179 Louis Street in Newington on September 7th. Congratulations to all the employees of Volvo Aero Connecticut and their President, Martin Wanblom!