AGMA - American Gear Manufacturers Association

2011 AGMA/ABMA Annual Meeting Saturday General Session

Department of Defense(DoD) Spending: Impact for the Manufacturing Sector
Cypress International, Inc.

Robert Cunningham (COL, US Army, Ret.), Director, Army Future Programs

Monica Gorzelnik (COL, US Army, Ret.), Director, Strategic C41

Like most businesses, the Department of Defense’s budget is built around an analysis of future market trends. However, that is where the similarity to other budgets ends. Being the Department of Defense, they alone have unique and significant parameters that must be addressed when looking at the budgeting process for their spending and programs. All of these must come into play as we take a hard look at the DoD budget process and analyze potential end-user opportunities in the DoD infrastructure.

The second part of this update will take an in-depth look at how these budgeting challenges also impact the acquisition cycles of the military services and their spending. Current programs within all branches of the Armed Forces will be addressed. You will learn how these programs have been impacted by recent events. Find out which programs have been terminated, or are on the “chopping block”; and what lies ahead for these and future programs.

As 30-year career Army officers, COL Cunningham and COL Gorzelnik bring significant military experience to this briefing. You will leave with a clearer understanding of the DoD budget process; current military service programs; and how all of this translates into potential future acquisitions.

The New North American Auto Industry: Moving Forward on Less Gas
Jay Baron, President and CEO, Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and Director of Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology Group

The automotive industry has just been through some of its most tumultuous years ever. Today’s manufacturing landscape is very different than just two years ago. The next transformative change will likely focus on products and technology. Major efforts are aimed at increasing safety, reducing greenhouse gases, and eliminating North America’s dependency on oil imports. The Administration has picked vehicle electrification as the chosen technology to reduce greenhouse gases and oil consumption. What can we expect to happen to suppliers, products, and the markets over the next 5 to 10 years? What are the challenges and how do we create solutions?

Jay Baron will review the state of the North American auto industry and discuss current and future trends. New products and new players will face challenges as the uncertain future unfolds. Key technologies continue to evolve in manufacturing and product design. These will increase the importance of the supply chain, and business partnerships. Smaller operating margins necessitate that all companies evaluate and prioritize strategic initiatives. Legislation, especially involving fuel economy, will significantly affect power train technology and vehicle design. Technological and legislative uncertainties are putting pressure on the auto industry which is finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the range of possibilities.

Opportunities in the Wind Energy Sector
Jeff Anthony, Director of Business Development, American Wind Energy Association

Wind power is one of the fastest growing forms of new electricity generation in the world. In the U.S., it represents the second-largest source of new generation for the past five years. In 2009, the U.S. wind energy industry installed over 10 gigawatts of new generating capacity, but 2010 brought a slowdown in both wind turbine installations and new turbine manufacturing facilities.

We are in a global race for new clean-energy manufacturing jobs, and the U.S. wind turbine manufacturing sector is lagging at the very time that the race is heating up. This strong demand for wind energy will create new manufacturing jobs – but at what cost? And where should these factories be located? We have a once-in-a-generation chance to attract and build manufacturing facilities, and we need to get it right.

Learn about manufacturing opportunities in the current wind energy industry from Jeff Anthony of AWEA. He will discuss how and why we need to increase the domestic content of wind turbine components in the United States.