Aerospace and Defense OEMs Join with SME to Create AeroDef Manufacturing, New Expo, Educational Conference

Executive Committee Includes Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Bell Helicopter, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Executives

DEARBORN, Mich., October 27, 2010 — The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) today announced the appointment of seven executive committee members for the AeroDef Manufacturing Exposition and Conference, to be held Tuesday–Thursday, April 5-7, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.

With pressure mounting for manufacturers and suppliers to innovate and drive technology development throughout the supply chain, major aerospace and defense OEMs are working with SME to create a vertically integrated event that will focus on helping manufacturing professionals keep current with new technologies and advanced manufacturing processes.

AeroDef Manufacturing will be the most comprehensive exposition and technical conference devoted to the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry in the world. The expo will include demonstrations of innovative, enabling technologies and advanced, integrated systems for manufacturing in the military and commercial aerospace, defense and space industries. Educational sessions will have a heavy emphasis on what the industry needs to know to move forward in advancing U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturing.

Executive committee members, representing the commitment of their companies to make AreoDef Manufacturing cutting edge in terms of educational sessions and demos of the latest aerospace and defense manufacturing technologies and integrated systems, include:

Dean Bartles PhD
VP & GM Large Caliber Ammunition
General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems Division

Jim Calas
Sector Director, Manufacturing Engineering Operations
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

Dianne Chong
VP of Assembly, Factory and Support Technologies, Boeing Engineering,Operations & Technology
The Boeing Company

Ralph Resnick
VP & Chief Technology Officer, Director Corporate Development and Manufacturing Consortium
National Center for Defense Manufacturing & Machining

Bill Saathoff
Director, Production Engineering & Technology
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Paul Oldroyd
Manager, Manufacturing Technology
Xworx & Engineering
Bell Helicopter/Textron

Arlene Dabbs
Director
Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
SAS Operations
Raytheon

Committee members are enthusiastic about the new expo.

"Our government customers are looking for radical changes in the way business is done, so we'll be sending our manufacturing technology group," said Bill Saathoff, Director, Production Engineering & Technology, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "I look forward to AeroDef to tell the industry what we really need." "Having the major aerospace defense companies involved in the planning process will take this event to the next level," says Jim Calas, Sector Director, Manufacturing Engineering Operations, Northrop Grumman Aerospace. Systems Organized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, AeroDef Manufacturing will offer the most comprehensive exposition and technical conference for aerospace, defense and space executives ever staged, offering insights into the evolution of manufacturing and the technologies that are driving future development. The expo will include the following innovation zones:

• Advanced Materials
• Digital Manufacturing
• Electronics
• Finishing & Coatings
• Integrated Assembly
• Precision Manufacturing
• Quality, Measurement & Inspection
• Supplier Strategies

"The country's leading OEMs are working with SME to make AeroDef Manufacturing the place for industry executives to get up to date and collaborate on the future of aerospace and defense manufacturing in the U.S.," said Dave Morton, AeroDef show manager. "The executive committee plans to stress the importance of technology and innovation to the future of the industry in the AeroDef education sessions, panel speakers and keynote addresses." Join our Twitter group @AeroDefMfg to learn details about AeroDef as they unfold.

About SME:
Founded in 1932, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its many programs, events and activities, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning all manufacturing industries and disciplines, plus the key areas of aerospace and defense, medical device, motor vehicles, including motorsports, oil and gas and alternative energy. A 501(c)3 organization, SME has members around the world and is supported by a network of technical communities and chapters worldwide.

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