Aerospace Industry Veterans See Supplier Consolidation Trend

Darlene Miller, president and CEO of Permac Industries, is one of six aerospace industry veterans interviewed for PM’s April special coverage article on OEMs consolidating suppliers.

 

While visiting a machine shop specializing in medical parts a few months ago, I was clued in to a growing trend in the manufacturing industry of OEMS consolidating suppliers. As the April issue of Production Machining had an aerospace focus, an aspect of the industry that shares similar traits of quality standards and traceability with medical manufacturing, we thought we’d investigate if this trend was being felt elsewhere.

So we reached out to some of our vendors with an aerospace aspect of their businesses, and those who are also members of the PMPA. I interviewed industry veterans Darlene Miller, the president and CEO of Permac Industries; Jeffrey Wiltsie, CEO and co-president of Vanamatic; Bill Cox, president of Cox Manufacturing Co.; Allen Cossairt, sales manager with Micro-Matics Inc.; Rich Hoster, president of Smith & Richardson Inc.; and Scott Carter, CEO and chairman of Rable Machine Inc. 

Talking with these suppliers reveals a recognition of a changing landscape that can be read about in the article, “Aerospace Roundup: Are OEMs Consolidating Suppliers?” Each of them have different ideologies and methods, but some believe this isn’t unique to aerospace, while others are certain this is simply cyclical. To read about what capabilities these shops are adding to stay competitive and retain customers, read the article here.