United States government spending with aerospace and defense contract manufacturing accounts for about 48% of worldwide military spending. Contractors interested in a piece of that pie must understand government processes and would benefit from military contract manufacturing training.

Of course, learning is a lifelong activity, even among military aerospace contract manufacturers. A good place to go for continuing education would be a US government source. Government training programs reflect government agency thinking. Since obtaining government contracts is the object of the exercise, this training has the advantage of helping students speak the language of their audience. These kinds of programs would be helpful for students working with aircraft parts, aerospace contract engineers or military contract manufacturing personnel. It might also be helpful to understand the history of defense contract manufacturers. Understanding that background can help military aerospace contract manufacturers improve their bids.

1. Understand contract manufacturers. Define your objectives and research the appropriate courses.

2. Know your audience. Learn what the military contract manufacturing wants from its defense contractors.

3. Apply your training. Tailor your bid to the expectations of aerospace and defense contract manufacturers and deliver a targeted bid.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for a private company that supplies government training for military contract manufacturing

Private companies offer certified training that helps create experts in the contract manufacturer field. Remote and classroom training are available. Some of these companies can help students bring their procurement processes online. This will be especially helpful to an aerospace contract manufacturing company.

I recommend: Review the Kidde website, develop a thorough understanding of safety rules and understand the safety requirements that will help you achieve your goals. Follow that by learning how to take your bid and put it online by reviewing what IPT has to offer and taking the classes that pertain to the defense contract manufacturers education and training you want.

Review defense contract manufacturing company training offered by the government and by consultants

The Federal Government offers a series of courses that will teach you to deliver what government employees reviewing contract bids will expect to see. There are also private consulting groups with a history of helping aerospace contract manufacturing companies succeed in the military contract manufacturing space.

I recommend: Reviewing the Defense Contract Management and Breen Consulting websites and tailor your course selections to your company's value proposition. aerospace and defense contract managers will benefit greatly.

Take a history lesson in military contract manufacturing

The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration (GSA) offer history and background for aerospace manufacturing companies of the Defense Contract Management Agency and the general procurement process. The more a bid developer knows about how these agencies gained their influence, the greater his chances of developing an approach in the government's preferred nomenclature.

I recommend: Visit the Department of Defense history of the Defense Contract Management Agency page and the GSA Background and History website. There, those involved with aerospace and defense contract manufacturers education and training will learn what the DCMA and GSA do, where the money goes, the oversight structure, how the organizations developed and grew, and gain insight into past controversies and successes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The key to working with the US government is to understand what it wants and deliver in its language and in its format. Military aerospace contract manufacturers that are able to do that will be the most successful in the long term.

Aerospace and defense contract manufacturers do important work for the development and building of defense and aerospace vehicles. The US government must approve military defense contractors. Aerospace manufacturing companies must meet the conditions and receive certification in AS9100 standards.

Military contract manufacturers come from every kind of industry, just like an aerospace manufacturing company. There are eight big contractors in the aerospace industry, but they rely on vendors, suppliers and manufacturers for parts, supplies, software, computers, electrical components and other items necessary to build the machines or vehicles.

1. The government must approve military contract manufacturers as government vendors with the US Office of Procurement.

2. Aerospace contract manufacturers must maintain certification in AS9100 standards.

3. Aerospace and defense contract manufacturers guarantee the manufacture of products that meet quality standards as defined by the US government and its departments.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use military contract manufacturers for your business

Defense contract manufacturers are not all behemoths. The government often defines its vendors and sub contractors as small business companies. Many of these companies provide work for civilian companies as well as the US government.

I recommend: Delfasco falls under the US government's definition of a small business. It supplies metal fabrication and forging manufacturing. SCS Frigette manufactures HVAC systems for military vehicles.

Consider going in to defense contract manufacturing

The defense department has several projects that require small business support. If you are a manufacturer, you might consider becoming a defense contract manufacturer. Look at businesses with experience as a defense contract manufacturer to determine whether your business might be able to gain a contract.

I recommend: Renton Coil Spring (RCS) works as an aerospace contract manufacturer and produces springs for civilian companies and for Boeing, a major operator in Defense projects. Sechan Electronics, deemed a small business, does defense contract manufacturing.

Use your company's expertise to do aerospace contract manufacturing

You should view the demand for military aerospace contract manufacturers as an opportunity to grow your company. Raise your quality standards and achieve an AS9100 certification. Aerospace contract engineers are always in demand, even for civilian jobs, because AS9100 certification suggests high-quality standards.

I recommend: AbelConn, an AS9100 certified manufacturer, provides parts and equipment used in the aerospace industry. If you're looking for an aerospace contract engineer, you should join Aerospace Contract Jobs to find contract engineers for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get information from the US Office of Procurement to apply for vendor status and become a defense contract manufacturing company. To get a certification to become an aerospace contract manufacturing company, go to the Society of American Engineers for information on training for AS9100 standards. In both cases, it can pay to hire a consulting firm that specializes in helping companies through the vendor and standards processes.

Aerospace and defense contract manufacturers are involved in the research, development and production of materials, tools and equipment used by the United States Department of Defense. They often work on projects involving other nations from around the world, and all production is done on a contract basis. In order to be involved in aerospace and defense contract manufacturing, you have to understand the processes, industry issues and business models associated with the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Universal ID (UID)

The UID system provides a key for quickly referencing an item's features, uses and radio frequency identification, or RFID, for items produced for and used by the Department of Defense.

I recommend: Universal ID Systems manufactures UID tags and stickers. Its site gives a good summary of what UIDs are, what types are available and the ways they can be used.

Radio frequency identification (RFID)

Radio frequency identification is another means of identifying products produced for and used by the Department of Defense. Since most of the DoD contracts involve products from many different contractors, these contractors tag their products to streamline the identification process for everyone involved and prevent the use of unapproved vendor products.

I recommend: RFID Journal offers news and sources regarding RFID used in the aerospace and defense industries, as well as other industries.

Counterfeiting

Within the aerospace and defense industry there is an issue regarding the use of non-genuine replacement parts when maintenance is necessary. Counterfeiting not only puts the individuals using the products at risk if the parts are not up to par, but also takes revenue away from the legitimate contractor. In the defense contracting industry, a good reputation is imperative. The use of UID and RFID helps prevent this activity and protects the contractor's reputation.

I recommend: Electronic Supply Chain Solutions offers resources to help aerospace and defense contract manufacturers battle counterfeiting.

Value stream analysis

Value stream analysis is performed to develop plans to improve production rates and reduce waste. These plans identify issues with communication, production processes and other problems.

I recommend: Automation.com offers a thorough discussion of value stream analysis. The site publishes news, research and networking and job opportunities for all automation professionals, including those in the aerospace and defense industries.

Fixed price

Most contracts in the defense industry are cost-plus. Fixed-price contracts fix a total price paid, with no added bonuses later on.

I recommend: The Defense Contract Management Agency deals with the entire contracting process for the Department of Defense. This site gives an excellent run down on the various types of government contracts and how they work.

Cost-plus model

The cost-plus model states a base amount due, then an added amount is awarded based on a later evaluation by the ordering entity, usually the U.S. government.

I recommend: Acquisition.gov lays out the definition of the cost-plus model in its incentives contracts code.

If you own or work for an aerospace contract manufacturing company, chances are you'll want to keep up with what your competitors are up to — who won the contract, who's developing a new product, etc. It's also necessary that you follow government and international regulations that affect your industry.

Aerospace is a big business, with many niches for different types of parts manufacturers and contractors. To get a broad picture of what's new, you can find aerospace and defense contract manufacturers news and trends from:

1. National publications that cover the aerospace industry.

2. Trade publications geared to defense manufacturing companies and aircraft parts contract manufacturers.

3. Aerospace and defense industry groups.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read respected business publications that cover defense and aerospace manufacturing companies

The aerospace and defense industries do hundreds of billions of dollars in deals each year. Developments in aerospace contract manufacturing have broad implications; they affect the way people travel, and play a role in determining national security policy and congressional budget talks. Given the far-reaching importance of aerospace and defense, it's no wonder military contract manufacturers are constantly in the news.

I recommend: Business Exchange, part of Business Week's online presence, has a news feed of the magazine's aerospace and defense coverage. The feed also culls stories from publications around the world, including the New York Times, the Hindu, and the Economist. The Wall Street Journal has a feed of its coverage of aerospace financial news, industry deals and technological developments.

Subscribe to trade rags that follow aerospace and defense contract manufacturing news

Industry trade news gets down to the nitty gritty: new product roll-outs, antenna upgrades, engine components and satellite technologies. In addition, you can find news about industry deals and partnerships.

I recommend: Avionics Europe is geared to European manufacturers, but of course covers major contractors like Boeing, GE, Honeywell and Northrup Grumman. Aviation Week is an prominent aerospace industry publication that covers all aspects of commercial and defense manufacturing. Airforce-technology.com has both international aerospace news and press releases from military aerospace contract manufacturers.

Get industry news from trade groups for aerospace and defense contract manufacturers

There are a number of global and national trade groups that represent the aerospace industry. Many feature newsletters for members, in addition to analysis, growth projections and statistics. Some of this information is publicly available, other periodic reports are for members only.

I recommend: The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has news about plant openings and closings, and upcoming space missions and research. The Aerospace Industries Association has news about contractor awards and industry events. The AeroSpace and Defense Industries Association of Europe offers a report of annual facts and figures, in addition to news of organization meetings and conferences.