Grumman collaborates with SME over conference

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector have joined forces to present a brand new conference at WESTEC 2003.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector have joined forces to present a brand new conference at WESTEC 2003.

Developed by SME members in cooperation with Northrop Grumman, the conference is a first ever, world-class program providing in-depth technical knowledge.

The conference will help support the technology needs of West Coast manufacturing, especially Southern California aerospace and defense industries, which continue to gain military contracts.

Titled Manufacturing Technology: Accelerating the Factory of the Future, the conference takes place March 24-27, 2003, in conjunction with the WESTEC exposition at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Content will be provided through a combination of Northrop Grumman experts, industry professionals, academia, and SME's technical associations and various members from SME Desert/Pacific Region 12.

The conference will be organized into seven technology tracks, each co-chaired by a Northrop Grumman and SME representative.

Each track will contain several sessions addressing various processes under that technology, and within each session, multiple topics will be presented by separate speakers.

In addition, one keynote presentation and a general session will take place.

Technology tracks are: composites; quality; mechanization and automation; information technology; machining; lean enterprise; and emerging technology and lasers.

Topics that will be covered in these tracks include: composite applications for airframe structures; advanced processes; advanced materials; composites oil field technology; self-inspection; six sigma; managing quality processes; assembly developments -- aerospace and automotive; robotic assimilation; advances in drilling and assembly; automated precision systems; automation team leadership; virtual factory; E-factory; high speed machining; small shop issues; supply chain management, lean enterprise efficiencies; lean techniques; nanotechnologies; advanced lasers; rapid prototyping; and others.

In all, nearly 50 speakers will discuss the latest manufacturing processes and technologies.

"We're pleased to work with SME to provide a new conference at such an important industry event and to have the opportunity to present some of our latest manufacturing innovations," said conference chair Janis Pamiljans, vice president, Lean Operations and Quality Assurance, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems.

"With such rapid advances in technology, companies must know how to use the latest equipment and technologies to remain globally competitive.

SME and Northrop Grumman have put together a conference that complements the WESTEC exposition and provides real-world applications of a number of key manufacturing processes and business philosophies." "It's great to partner with an industry leader like Northrop Grumman to bring such a high level of technical education to this year's WESTEC," said James Leslie, PhD., SME Fellow and director-at-large, chairman and CEO, Advanced Composite Products and Technology.

"As part of SME's mission to support and advance manufacturing knowledge, we continuously seek out new ways to gather and disseminate the best information, and Northrop Grumman's participation is making that happen.

We appreciate their willingness to join us in this effort.".

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