Establish the Maine Aerospace Alliance (MEAA)

Develop a strategic sales and marketing plan

Address barriers to entry to the aerospace market and internal business challenges faced by Maine companies engaged in aerospace-related business

Workforce Training

Other business challenges

Stimulate and encourage the development of relevant education programs at Maine’s University and Community Colleges

Develop a concentration in Aerospace Engineering

Establish articulation agreements among education providers

Establish the Maine Aerospace Alliance (MEAA): The intent of the MEAA, as envisioned by industry representatives, is to make Maine more competitive in the national and international aerospace market through connecting Maine companies engaged in aerospace-related activities to each other and to specific resources.

The MEAA Director will reach out to all of the Maine companies who have expressed an interest in and commitment to participating in the Alliance. As part of this outreach effort, the Director will conduct a “capabilities inventory” to better understand what type of aerospace contracting work is being done (or could be done) in Maine, identify shared obstacles among MEAA members, and develop solutions that will benefit multiple companies.

Develop a strategic sales and marketing plan: The MEAA Director will facilitate the development of a strategic sales and marketing plan BY business, FOR business. Specific tasks involved in developing and implementing the aerospace sales and marketing plan include leveraging connections made among cluster companies, the completed capabilities database and the completed sales and marketing plan. The MEAA Director will take the lead in promoting the cluster to companies in and outside of Maine. This activity will be conducted by face-to-face meetings, aerospace industry conferences and forums, and through the direct connections of the industry members with OEM’s and Prime Contractors. (Starting in Q6 and on-going).

Address barriers to entry to the aerospace market and internal business challenges faced by Maine companies engaged in aerospace-related business: The “capabilities inventory” conducted in the first year will identify where the gaps are in Maine’s capacity to competitively bid on aerospace contracts and/or attract new aerospace business to Maine.

Workforce Training: Based on the findings from Phase I, MAMe recognizes that in order for Maine companies to be competitive in the aerospace market, they must have a well-trained and appropriately certified workforce. Through the MEAA, Maine’s aerospace-related companies will have access to a variety of education and training opportunities for their existing workforce. Specifically, the MAMe is a Governor’s Training Initiative (GTI) Consortium Agent for the purpose of coordinating training for a variety of industry certification such as NADCAP, ISO, etc.; coordinate with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to provide customized training in aerospace technology; and coordinate with the Maine Advanced Technology Center to provide workers with access to training in traditional manufacturing skills areas such as machining and welding.

Other business challenges: Companies participating in the MEAA will have access to MAMe’s Business Services Division. MAMe established the Business Services Division approximately 4 years ago due to the enormous requests from members for services that were increasing difficult to find through a maze of service providers in Maine. The association has affiliate members who provide “business consulting” and services to manufacturers. MAMe sets up work performance contracts directly with members based at their request and based on their individual needs. MAMe offers a full array of business services through a network of over twenty affiliate organizations in areas of training including Lean, Internal Audit, CAD and Customized Training; Strategic and Business Planning; Industrial Engineering; Grant Writing (SBIR, MTI, TIF’s, etc.); Industry and Int’l Sales/Marketing; Quality: CE Mark, ISO, NADCAP, AS Certifications; HR Services; Network Systems; Cost Accounting; Web Design and IT Services; Compliance; Energy Solutions and Building: Green, new, renovations. For the purpose of addressing business challenges, the association is fully equipped to provide members with business solutions in the aerospace sector. The Business Services Division is a fee-based service, aligned with state and/or federal resources to assist companies with business needs.

Stimulate and encourage the development of relevant education programs at Maine’s University and Community Colleges: In addition to providing training to Maine current aerospace workforce, this cluster must have access to a pipeline of skilled workers if it is to be sustained and continue to expand. In accordance with the goal of developing and growing the Maine aerospace industry, the MEAA will seek to stimulate and encourage vital training and education to support the critical needs of this highly skilled industry. Of particular focus will be programs at the community college and university levels, key resources in supporting the needs of both the manufacturing and engineering elements of the aerospace cluster.

Develop a concentration in Aerospace Engineering: Dr. David S. Rubenstein, President of Maine Aerospace Consulting, LLC (MAC) and member of the MEAA Steering Committee, is working with the University of Maine, College of Engineering to develop and implement an Aerospace Engineering program. The program will initially be established as a “Concentration in Aerospace Engineering” within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. For those disciplines outside of this department, the program would provide a “Minor in Aerospace Engineering”. The courses will be offered in the Portland area as well as in Orono, using ITV distance learning technologies. Dr. Rubenstein is developing, and the University will offer, three courses in the general areas of Aeronautics and Astronautics, with the initial course taught in Fall 2009. MAC and MEAA will cost-share the development expense of the initial three courses:

• Astronautics (Junior Level Elective) providing an introduction to the design and operation of spacecraft systems [offered Fall 2009]
• Aeronautics (Junior Level Elective) providing an introduction to the dynamics and performance of aircraft flight [to be offered Fall 2010]
• Spacecraft Orbit and Attitude Dynamics and Control (Senior Level Elective) providing the principles of spaceflight [to be offered Fall 2011]

Establish articulation agreements among education providers: Ensuring a pipeline of skilled and ready-to-work employees for Maine’s aerospace companies requires that all of Maine’s education providers – public and private are working together to offer appropriate and relevant education programs. The MEAA will work with the University of Maine, the Maine Community College System (particularly the MATC in Brunswick) and Embry Riddle to establish articulation agreements that better align their traditional manufacturing and engineering programs with advanced aerospace technology and engineering programs and encourage creation of certificate and degree pathways that lead to employment opportunities. To ensure that these agreements and the various programs continue to meet the needs of industry, the MEAA will also work with the Maine Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information to collect up-to-date employment and training data from employers. Data will be shared quarterly with the industry and education communities on a regular basis to ensure alignment.