Published: Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 12:37 p.m.

There's another breakfast event on Nov. 6 in Tacoma featuring the PMW Operations of Cadence Aerospace, PNAA's company of the year.

We found this bit in the Umbra Cuscinetti report particularly interesting:

For more information: Allison Tapert, Promotions & Marketing Coordinator Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance 425.885.0290 / contact@pnaa.net / http://www.pnaa.net

Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance's Aerospace Executive of the Year, Bob Collett, Reflects on Umbra Cuscinetti's Achievements at Breakfast Meeting

Everett, WA October 29, 2013 Over 40 Aerospace Executives found their way through heavy morning fog to attend Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance's October Breakfast Showcase featuring PNAA's Aerospace Executive of the Year Robert Collett of Umbra Cuscinetti.

During the two hour meeting, Collett provided an overview of his aerospace career and information about Umbra Cuscinetti's operations in Italy, Germany and the United States. Umbra, a supplier of actuators, ball screws, torque tubes, and gears used on the aircraft wings, provided tours of its new 70,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility which is expected to generate 100 new jobs and $50 million by 2015.

Bob Uptagrafft, PNAA Vice Chair and senior program manager at Impact Washington has known Collett since 2009 and has watched Collett transform Umbra into an efficient, and successful manufacturing facility. "This didn't happen by accident. And to say the change has been explosive is an understatement," Uptagrafft said.

PNAA Board Chair JC Hall, agreed. "When I was first introduced to Umbra Cuscinetti 5 years ago, I would have described it as a failing company. Their costs were out of control, and their Everett product line showed little potential for growth or profitability. Under Collett's leadership, the company has made a massive turnaround. Bob has driven manufacturing excellence to achieve profitability while expanding their customer base and product offerings. He and his team have created a totally different company in a few short years."

According to Collett, when he took the reins at Umbra, the company was delivering torque tubes and gears at a disappointing 70 percent on-time delivery record with Boeing. Within 10 months, Collett and the Umbra team were back on schedule and that "really opened eyes at Boeing," he said. "We did it through LEAN, and streamlined our processes. We looked at processes in our offices and the factory floor. LEAN is a business tool, and you have to do it throughout the organization to be effective."

See original here:

Report from an aerospace supplier's open house