The isle of manufacturing

AMJune18Features - iom2
AMJune18Features - iom2

Adrian Moore, chairman of the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster explains how the organisation helps the Island ensure that aerospace manufacturing remains at the heart of its economic vision.

Last year the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC) launched a new three-year strategy, outlining the key objectives we want to achieve by 2020. Our current aims focus on promoting and developing Isle of Man aerospace companies to achieve global recognition for our performance, competence, infrastructure and environment. We want to sustain our international market leading position within high technology and aerospace industries.

To achieve this, we are identifying common costs and obstacles to cost competitiveness and working together to drive them down for the benefit of all cluster members. This requires initiatives such as joint sourcing, supplier selection, economies of scale purchasing, lobbying, and working closely with government bodies to align policy in support of growth for the sector.

We’re also developing a strategy to deliver a supporting infrastructure on the island that will address the operational needs of the cluster to deliver world-class performance to its customers. We’re working hard now to ensure that we’ll have the right skills, tools and equipment in place to cement our aerospace technical capability in years to come. Therefore, we’re strengthening links to educational establishments so that we’re prepared and well-placed to navigate future needs.

There are countless benefits to being part of the IOMAC. Companies collaborate to create a range of services for members so that they can continuously improve their businesses and position themselves at the forefront of the sector. Additionally, for Isle of Man based firms, networking with the global sector and tapping into centres of excellence can be difficult, and for smaller companies it is often cost and time prohibitive. The IOMAC cluster model provides specific assistance to tackle this and helps businesses to fight their battle to keep in touch with the pace and needs of the industry.

Adrian Moore, chairman of the Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster

There are 22 companies in IOMAC, spanning aerospace design, manufacturing and service provision, but it isn’t about supplying parts. We offer a vertically integrated supply chain with the ability to support complex systems which are designed, machined, assembled and tested locally, and we use a global supply chain to bring the whole solution together.

We’re driven by an ethos which recognises aerospace engineering as the pinnacle of engineering standards and advanced manufacturing. This recognition means we’re not only involved in virtually every major aerospace programme in the world, but also supply the leading names in a variety of industries.

Our expertise and centres of excellence in undercarriage systems, engine parts and systems, aerostructures and more recently aircraft interiors design and additive manufacture design, for all the major aircraft manufacturers (either directly or via the supply chain) means that Isle of Man engineering continues to contribute to every major programme.

The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster and all its members, collectively and individually, are supported by the Isle of Man Government. We’ve a long history of agility and public private sector partnership, and we were one of the first Clusters in the world to recognise and act upon the skills challenge the industry faced. We put engineering skills champions in all our schools in 2007, and in 2010 over £5million were invested in two engineering training facilities. Today we’re training over 100 young people a year in exemplary advanced manufacturing and a broad range of skills up to degree level.

We’ve rebranded for Farnborough Airshow 2018 and I think our new tag lines sum this up perfectly - Nurturing Talent, Gaining Recognition, Creating Possibilities.

The outcome of Brexit will be a challenge for the whole of British industry. We should however remain proud of our world-renowned heritage in engineering, our skills, expertise and reputation, and remain confident that our international partners value all of these things.

In terms of the aerospace industry specifically, we’re the second or third largest aerospace economy in the world - depending on whose list you have. I believe the success of the global aerospace industry depends on an international ‘cluster’ of collaboration, understanding and partnerships. Without this, the whole industry would suffer.

www.aerospace.co.im

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