AeroDef Sessions To Show How OEMs, Suppliers Are Creating An Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing 'Digital Thread'

ANAHEIM, Calif - The concept of a digital thread – several supply chain partners with different skill sets, systems and processes, working together with OEMs to integrate aerospace and defense manufacturing to a greater degree than has ever been accomplished in the past – will be the focus of more than 15 sessions at the AeroDef Manufacturing Exposition and Conference, April 5-7, in Anaheim, Calif.

“Accomplishing a ‘Digital Thread’ requires the manufacturing technologists to come on board at the same time the engineering designers are considering the configuration,” Paul Oldroyd, technical fellow, Bell Helicopter, and a member of the AeroDef Executive Committee, explains. “It’s a different development model for the industry, but one of the most important. It’s the future of where aerospace manufacturing technology’s going.”

Sessions and panels covering the subject at AeroDef include:

Digital Data Capture & Transfer

“Tribal Knowledge Management for Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing”
Athulan Vijayaraghavan, CTO, System Insights

“Computation Manufacturing Alliance: The Realization of the Digital Thread”
Roger Richardson, Member, Computational Manufacturing Alliance

“Legacy 500: New Era of Digital Factory”
Gustavo Guimaraes, Legacy 500 Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineering, Embraer


Digital Systems for Advanced Manufacturing

“Integrating VLJ Mechanical 3D CAD Data into a 3D Visual Enterprise Server”
George Earle, VP Enterprise Consulting and Services, Right Hemisphere

“Application of Laser Projection and Indoor GPS in the F-35 Finishes Process”
Daniel Lopez, Applications Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

“Optical Projection for Aerospace Assembly Instructions”
Meredith Hopps, Applications Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics


Digital Factory

“Automating Processes to Enable and Manage Growth”
Ben Sommerville, COO, Phoenix Logistics

“High Temperature Laser Sintered Components”
Tim Shinbara, Jr., Manufacturing Engineer, Northrop Grumman

“Manufacturing Aerospace Execution Systems at Rolls-Royce Aerospace”
Michael James, FCMA, Dip.MS, Group Managing Director, ATS International


Advanced Tooling & Modeling Concepts

“Model Based Definition (MBD)”
Mark Lindsay, Manufacturing Analyst, Northrop Grumman

“Digital Tooling”
Patrick Luisi, Manager Advanced Measurement Systems, Northrop Grumman

“Programming and Simulating Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) CNC Machines: How Difficult Could It Be?”
Jim Huddy, National Sales Manager, CGTech


Advanced Composite Manufacturing

“3-D Woven Preform Joints and Co-bond Processes and Tooling”
Stephen Parsons, PE, Lockheed Martin Felllow, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

“Cured Laminate Compensation for Composite Part Thickness Control”
Mike Hestness, Applications Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics


Composite Machining

“Precision Manufacturing”
Ed Lugo, Manufacturing Technology Applications, Mgr., Northrop Grumman


Register to attend AeroDef Manufacturing Exposition and Conference April 5–7 in Anaheim.