Keen to demonstrate to the teams that this was more than just management speak, the leadership team of AIM Aerospace quickly followed with action, investing in new machines, collaboratively competing for – and winning – new business with proposals developed across multiple sites, and placing work from new UAV contracts into their Renton facility. Significant investment is being placed in the Renton and Sumner facilities( the Auburn facility will be consolidated with Sumner), modernizing them to reflect the quality of the aerospace parts they produce and hence improving safety standards, efficiency and preparing them for growth. In January 2019 they will be qualified to complete more complex carbon fiber work. AIM Aerospace intends to grow the business by 50 percent and employ an additional 200-300 people in the next four years – the majority of which will be in Washington – by focusing more on composite engine components, complex structures and UAVs. While one may ask how this is possible given the adoption of automation, AIM Aerospace isn’ t looking to Industry 4.0 simply to reduce labor and hence costs, but more importantly as a means of creating a safer environment for employees, providing an enhanced customer experience through high delivery and quality, and enabling the company to win more business. Cagnatel comments that,“ We are focused on automation to help us grow the company through industry-leading safety, quality, delivery and cost … enabling us to achieve the most competitive position and secure more jobs in the state.”
The Power of Employee Engagement
Reflecting the dynamic changes taking place at AIM Aerospace, the company leadership has changed significantly over the past year, with a stream of experienced and highly talented individuals joining the AIM Aerospace team. They are charged with embracing three key responsibilities:
1. Moving the industrial needle for the implementation of technologies and services.
2. Differentiating the company through their approach to customer support, being one of partner over supplier, and taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to customer management.
3. Attracting better talent to the business, combined with the points above, leading to significant growth, customer and investor satisfaction, and increased jobs for the company.
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