Alliance aims for bigger share of aerospace cake

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 15, 2005

A US-based group which has been solving complex cost, process and performance management problems for more than 30 years has made a Yorkshire Forward project its first European affiliated member.

A prestigious US-based group which has been solving complex cost, process and performance management problems for more than 30 years has turned to a pioneering Yorkshire Forward project to be its first new European affiliated member.

The Virtual Enterprise Network (VEN), a Yorkshire Forward-led programme, will become the founding European member of CAM-I, a not-for-profit research and development group set up to serve needs in manufacturing, service and public sector industries.

Yorkshire Forward announced the new alliance from its stand at the 46th International Paris Air Show, where the VEN is being showcased to leading aerospace figures.

The unique VEN programme, which is part funded by the European Union, is a programme to enable smaller companies to bring their different areas of expertise together to satisfy the needs of major public and private sector contracts.

CAM-I president, Ashok Vadgama, together with representatives from Boeing, visited Yorkshire in March this year to deliver a master class to VEN members on target costing - a technique which enables firms to cut the time and the cost of getting new products to the market.

Current members of CAM-I include IBM, Rockwell Collins, SAP, Boeing and the US Marines, Navy, Coastguard, Army, Air Force and Department of Defense.

The new alliance with CAM-I means that VEN team members will have direct access to some of the most innovative research in the industry while forging links with the world's biggest buyers.

Jim Farmery, Head of Technology Infrastructure at Yorkshire Forward, added: "This new alliance with CAM-I is a true endorsement of the innovative way in which the Virtual Enterprise Network is helping smaller firms in Yorkshire to get a slice of multi-million-pound contracts".

"Bearing in mind that the US has the world's biggest aerospace market, the fact we are allied to one of its most respected and valued research and development organisations gives the VEN true influence".

"VEN companies are currently bidding on aerospace contracts worth almost GBP 4 million - if won, these contracts will be a significant boost to our region's economy".

"Being aligned to organisations like CAM-I should ensure the continued success of this programme and encourage others to come on board".

Yorkshire and Humber was looking for a bigger share of the multi-billion-pound aerospace market with its largest ever presence at the International Paris Air Show this week.

Yorkshire Forward has a central 280m2 stand at the event, the premier international aerospace industry show, to demonstrate how it can deliver some of the world's most sophisticated technologies in metals and manufacturing.

Representatives from all the world's main aerospace companies are at the show and were being given a chance to find out more about the innovative VEN programme at the Yorkshire Forward stand at Stand E3 in Hall 4.