SAMPE Journal - September/October 2012 - (Page 2)

President’s Message Dr. Kate Thorp U.S. Air Force Research Lab, WPAFB Katie.Thorp@frontier.com As many of you know, the SAMPE Board of Directors has been studying, for over three years, various changes in the organizational structure of SAMPE. You might wonder, however, why changes are being considered during a time when SAMPE is so vigorous and financially healthy. To answer many of your questions, I am turning over this issue of the President’s Message to Dr. Brent Strong who is chairing the group currently working the details of this transition. Please see below for more information from Dr. Strong. From Dr. Strong: I will try to explain some of the reasons for the changes and I invite you to contact me to discuss further the organizational modifications that are being considered. Perhaps the easiest way to begin this discussion is to relate some facts about SAMPE and the advanced materials and processes industry. Most of these you already are aware of, at least in general, but some may be a surprise. Manufacturing of advanced materials has become a worldwide industry with several companies now utilizing subcontractors from many nations. This internationalization of production has not been easy. Boeing and Airbus, along with many other companies, are struggling to develop systems in which international manufacturing can work efficiently and without miss-matches between suppliers and the central company. Millions of dollars are being lost in reworked parts and delayed shipments. These aerospace companies are the backbone of SAMPE, and SAMPE has the opportunity and, I think, the obligation to help solve some of these problems associated with international supply chains. We can do this best if SAMPE is organized globally. The Mission of SAMPE of being a “global forum” is not being properly met. Just as when SAMPE was formed, problems in materials and processing were, and are, prevalent. SAMPE was formed to communicate solutions to those problems. Now, with the growth in international work, the worldwide communication of solutions to problems needs to be facilitated and SAMPE should take the lead in doing that. There are currently vast areas of the world that are not serviced by SAMPE. The global reorganization will help solve that problem. SAMPE has seen growth in the number of non-US members to an approximate level in 2012 of 41%. This growth probably reflects the internationalization of manufacturing. However, the growth of membership in SAMPE does not reflect the growth of the advanced materials and processes industry. SAMPE needs to be able to more vigorously expand its membership and the new organization is tailored and focused to do that. SAMPE has had 67 International Presidents but only 1 of those presidents has been non-US. The new structure that is being contemplated will remove some of the organizational barriers that have largely prevented internationalization of the leadership in SAMPE. This lack of upward capability in SAMPE has denied SAMPE of the experience and capabilities of some great non-US leadership. The non-US members are currently under-represented on the International Board of Directors (28%) and on the Cabinet (25%) versus their membership entitlement of 41%. Just as the presidency has been overly US-intensive, so has the Board and the Cabinet. This lack of equitable local representation may have diminished SAMPE growth internationally and has certainly reduced SAMPE’s influence around the world. Amount of time in International Board Meetings spent on issues principally associated with the US is 87%. It is discouraging for non-US Directors to attend an International Board meeting and spend such a disproportionate time on US matters of business. In the global organization being contemplated, these US matters will be discussed in a North American Board of Directors meeting. A separate body, the Global Board of Directors, will then be free to discuss international matters such as expanding SAMPE’s influence to areas where SAMPE is weak (such as Latin America, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, etc.) and otherwise improving global communication and participation. 2 SAMPE Journal, Volume 48, No. 5, September/October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - September/October 2012

SAMPE Journal - September/October 2012
Contents
President’s Message
SAMPE Journal Editorial Calender
Technical Director’s Corner
Prepreg Non-Autoclave Manufacturing Technology: Program Overview and Co-Cure Enablers for Disruptive, Pervasive Use
Welcome SAMPE’s Newest Members
Materials & Products
SAMPE Tech 2012|Charleston, SC
Perspectives
SAMPE Proceedings
Perspectives- Taking Material Science To The Next Frontier: Models Of Past Material Innovations And How They May Impact The 21st Century
Europe News & Views
SAMPE Europe’s SETEC 2012, Lucerne, Switzerland
SAMPE Europe’s SEICO 2013, Paris, France
SAMPE 2013|Long Beach Call for Papers
Industry News
Approach to Optimizing a Combined Out-of-Autoclave (OOA) Prepreg/Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) Process for Integrated Structures
SAMPE LinkedIn Communities
Corporate Partners
The SAMPE Foundation
Tech Tidbits
SAMPE Upcoming Events
Face-Sheet Quality Analysis and Thermo- Physical Property Characterization of OOA and Autoclave Panels
Advertiser’s Index
Resource Center
SAMPE Membership Application
SAMPE Books & CD’s Order Form
Industry Events Calendar
Chapter Meetings Dates and Contacts

SAMPE Journal - September/October 2012