Subcon sees satellite supply chain opportunities
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The need for innovative approaches is driving satellite supply chain demands.
Copyright Airbus Defence and Space
Subcon (7-9 June at the NEC, Birmingham) is the UK’s showcase event for contract and subcontract manufacturing supply chains across all technologies and sectors.
The Subcon conference is free to attend for all registered visitors to the show and covers a broad sweep of topics, from supply chain development issues, to technological challenges, sustainability, automation and late payments.
Keynote sessions include a presentation from Mike Healy, Vice President Space Systems and CIS Procurement, Airbus Defence & Space, who will look at supply chain trends and opportunities for satellite systems.
This is a fast-moving area, and as new paradigms come into play they bring major technology and cost implications – and significant opportunities for suppliers.
As Mike Healy explained: “The supply chain represents typically 60-70% of the total cost of a satellite. Historically, the supply chain challenge focused on absolute reliability driven by a conservative approach to quality assurance and testing. The advent of ‘new space’ constellations such as OneWeb* is driving a more innovative approach to achieve a fifty times reduction in price whilst maintaining high reliability. A new supply chain is being developed based on the opportunities, and risks, of this new business model.”
Other keynote speakers include Dave Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing, SME Commercial Banking, Lloyds Bank, who will talk on investing to drive productivity and Jon Sumner of Lambert Engineering on taking automation to the next level with Industry 4.0.
Among the other topics covered are the commercialisation of composite materials for the mass market, precision metrology, additive manufacturing in supply chains, remanufacturing as a driver for sustainability, collaborative robots and SME engagement in major defence programmes.