Product category:
Subcon Exhibition
News Release from: Subcon
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 March 2008
Seminar educates on aerospace tier one
outsourcing
A Subcon seminar, 'Why global re-sourcing is good for Eaton', discusses how a global aerospace tier one company finds new suppliers.
How does a global aerospace tier one company go about finding new suppliers? That's the question that Malcolm Herrington of Eaton Aerospace will be answering in a free seminar session at the UK's Subcon 2008 subcontracting show, April 22-24, NEC, Birmingham The presentation, entitled 'Why global re-sourcing is good for Eaton', is part of a series of specially commissioned presentations for visitors to the show
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Feb 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
World water speed record boat staged at Subcon
Visitors to the UK's Subcon 2006 subcontractors' exhibition will have a first chance to see the 'Quicksilver' World Water Speed record boat and to learn about the engineering story.
Subcon builds business for gear making
Mini Gears pecialises in the manufacture of all kinds of gears and racks and is currently expanding its ground gears section for high-speed applications.
Subcon 2008 brings together the complete spectrum of subcontract manufacturing services.
Herrington explained, "Part of our remit is to have a large part of our spend in best cost countries.
But it isn't just about cost - aerospace is a highly regulated industry so there have to be checks and balances.
Further reading
Industry bodies line up to support subcon 2005
UK subcontracting show, Subcon 2005, has attracted the support of highly respected organisations from such a wide range of industries and technologies.
Subontracting show has machine tool zone
UK subcontract manufacturing exhibition will feature a complementary Machine Tool Zone to give machine tool companies the chance to reach a wide range of high-level buyers.
Subcontracting topic papers called for
The UK Subcon 2005 conference entitled 'Sourcing and subcontracting in global markets - survival strategies for buyers and suppliers' will be held alongside the Subcon exhibition.
It is about value, synergies and harmonies with our philosophy.
What we want is to work with like-minded organisations".
Herrington said that suppliers that don't 'shape up' and adopt modern manufacturing methods are going to be left behind as Eaton sets about replacing suppliers that aren't performing.
He added that there is a danger of UK companies being complacent about what their competitors in developing countries are now offering.
Herrington emphasised: "In the Far East and India there is a phenomenal degree of determination to succeed, and a willingness to adopt modern manufacturing methods.
My warning to UK companies is that if you don't come with us you will miss out".
He said that to be a supplier to Eaton, companies need to know what sets them apart from their competitors.
"We've gone beyond just wanting good quality and on-time deliveries, they are givens," said Herrington.
"We want to raise the bar.
Skill and equipment levels are taken for granted; we expect suppliers to have modern machines.
But we ask them 'What is your planning like? What are your warranty returns like? What is your internal yield and your scrap rate? These things can tell you a lot about a company".
* Lean manufacturing - the companies Herrington is working with in 'best cost' countries are adopting the whole philosophy of lean manufacturing: increasing efficiency and driving out waste and bottlenecks.
A lot of them are vertically integrated and can carry out processes such as heat treatments under one roof without subbing them out.
He added: "Any special processes other than machining, such as welding, NDT, plating and heat treatments are where things can go badly wrong, and when you sub them out they are out of your control.
When you get all those processes under the same roof you have one-stop supply and that makes the supply chain much easier to work with".
He continued: "This is an area where India, for example, is really about to take off.
We are helping them to do that by sending our experts over there to conduct audits and advise them on processes - they are hungry for the knowledge and the intellectual property.
If you get in with a company at the beginning and help them deliver, you will have a loyal-long term partner.
We are on all the major Airbus programmes and these can have a life of 20 to 30 years, so if a supplier is working with us they have a fantastic win".
Herrington concluded: "There are huge benefits if you shape up with us, and there is no reason why UK companies can't do it.
But they need to understand what they are up against".
To find out more about the Subcon seminar programme, register for your ticket and book your seminar places please visit
• Subcon: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
