Hopes To Bolster State's Struggling Manufacturer Base

Aero-News has learned the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (MAMA) was recently formed as a strategic initiative to bridge Michigan's manufacturing expertise, experience and capacity with an accelerated parts demand within the global aerospace industry.

This announcement comes as the commercial, military and corporate aerospace segments all face unprecedented parts shortages. MAMA President Gavin Brown made the announcement.

"Michigan's manufacturing base possesses many of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced facilities in the nation and one of the deepest and most talented work forces in the world," said Brown. "These significant assets coupled with a substantial manufacturing capacity, position Michigan effectively as the 'go-to' resource to meet this growing demand and address the significant manufacturing challenges facing this industry."

MAMA already represents 17 diverse manufacturers across the state. It serves as a unified voice for promoting Michigan's manufacturing capabilities within the international aerospace community and provides its members with training and certification support. The Association provides a single-point of contact for aerospace OEM's and suppliers providing a central gateway for generating, reviewing and submitting RFQs.

"MAMA is getting great traction," said Brown. "We have been meeting with many of the industry's players-large and small-over the last several months and they are all lending credibility to our consortium by endorsing our initiative and sourcing RFQ's, several of which are already in process within MAMA."

Many of the state's leaders are also showing their support for MAMA and the opportunities it affords the state of Michigan and its manufacturing community. "Michigan needs new and creative initiatives like the MAMA to help turn our manufacturing economy around and diversify our manufacturing base," said Mark Jansen, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development. "Michigan workers and Michigan manufacturers are the best and the brightest in country and I am looking forward to working with MAMA to help bring these jobs and opportunities to our state."

Pontiac-based HydroDynamics Technologies, Inc. (HDT) is a member of MAMA. "We are thrilled with the opportunity to leverage our equipment and production capabilities to manufacture parts for aerospace and military applications," said HDT Vice President Kevin Webb. "Our advanced engineering and technologies will certainly reduce costs and lead times for manufacturers and down-line suppliers."

MAMA currently represents manufacturers in Belmont, Caledonia, Comstock Park, Fraser, Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, Jackson, Kentwood, Marcellus, Plainwell, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Taylor and Traverse City.

FMI: www.michman.org