Greg Ulmer, vice president and general manager of F-35 Lightning II program for Lockheed Martin, delivers a keynote presentation, Continuous Innovation & Development of the F-35 Program, on March 17 from 8:20 to 9 a.m. He discusses progress of the production ramp up, continuous improvements in affordability and the leveraging of digital transformation throughout the program.

The March 18 keynote, from 8:15 to 9 a.m., features Gerould Young, senior director of advanced materials and manufacturing for Boeing Research & Technology, with his presentation, Composites, Automation & Data in Aerospace Manufacturing. Composites have delivered improved performance and cost reductions for aerospace products. With higher production rates pushing manufacturers toward more automated composite fabrication and large-part assembly, Young discusses the challenges and use of process control, in-situ measurement and data systems to achieve rate, quality and safety in production environments.Next Generation Automation for Aerospace Composites, the panel discussion on March 17 from 9 to 10 a.m., tackles the need for serious production improvements in coming years. Consider that Boeing and Airbus estimate that about 40,000 commercial aircraft will be required over the next 20 years. Or that the U.S. military is researching concepts of swarms of unmanned systems with limited life (even disposable) and low cost. Or that the Air Taxi concept is no longer a 40-year-old dream of a flying car. An expert panel contemplates the change of state required for the aerospace industry to achieve production rates for these future aircraft.

On March 18 from 9 to 10 a.m., the panel topic is Industry 4.0 for Aerospace Manufacturing in 2020: Impact, Challenges and Best Practices. Experts explore how the 4th industrial revolution is currently applied to, and impacts, aerospace manufacturing throughout the supply chain. The session includes discussion of the business problems currently addressed through these new capabilities, and challenges in user adoption, best practices and lessons learned.

AeroDef Manufacturing 2020 includes a robust conference schedule, with presentations representing a wide spectrum of manufacturing technologies. Conference technical sessions include the following tracks: AM/3D Printing; Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise; Air Force Research Laboratory ManTech Update; Automation, Assembly & Robotics; Composites Manufacturing & Advanced Materials; and Smart Manufacturing/Industry 4.0.

Preceding all of the above, on March 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Additive Fundamentals Review Program and Exam provides introductory knowledge of the 3D printing industry, including terms and definitions, software and hardware, and also discusses applications and case studies.

Half-day workshops on a variety of relevant topics also will be held on March 16.

Tour Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

…in Fort Worth, where the facility produces F-16 and F-35 aircraft for U.S. military and for international partners. The assembly building, more than a mile long, began producing military aircraft in World War II, beginning with the B-24 Liberator. The tour focuses on the F-35 assembly line, highlighting flow to takt lean manufacturing, material flow and advanced-manufacturing implementation. Space is limited, with only U.S. citizens eligible. Register by February 17, as onsite registration will not be accepted. 

AeroDef Manufacturing 2020 offers other special presentations and events. Learn more, and register. 3DMP

See also: SME Headquarters

Technologies:

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