WIRED Program
Lead

Project 2.1

Identification of high priority supplier training needs through surveys, forums and industry input

Industrial Rejuvenation and Supply Chain Transformation Initiative: Improve the international competitiveness of the region's supply chain by developing and executing a Supplier Transformation strategy that supports manufacturers, small businesses and entrepreneurs in adapting to the flat global manufacturing transformation.

Step One - Project 2.1: Characterization of current supplier competitiveness capabilities and identification of core priority supplier development and training requirements through surveys, forums and industry input.



21st Century Supply Chain Transformation Survey

The impact of the California supplier network is huge - a single large manufacturer has 6,000 Californian suppliers to which they provide revenues of $5.6B annually, affecting 60,000 jobs.

Purpose and Results - why is this survey different?

This survey will gather information from current or potential California suppliers, with the intent to characterize current capabilities of California's supply chain. Results will be analyzed on an aggregate and anonymous basis, to identify core supplier capability requirements and gaps, and to optimize a California supplier development and training strategy, to help California businesses compete in the global economy. A summary of the results, and invitations to future no cost Supplier Transformation Forums will be made available to all survey participants.

Your participation in this survey is appreciated. Please respond quickly, to the best of your ability, and only once if you receive this from multiple sources. Do not expend excessive time or conduct extensive research in order to respond. The survey should only take approximately 15 - 20 minutes to complete, with relevant incentives to thank you for your time.

Survey Opportunity Drawing
All survey respondents who respond by July 31, 2007 are automatically qualified to enter an opportunity drawing to win one of the following 2 prizes:

  • $100 American Express gift certificate
  • A copy of the UPDATED and expanded edition of The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman


Letter of Invitation (PDF) from the Honorable Andrea Seastrand, Executive Director, CSA.



Background

Fifty percent of all US aerospace suppliers are based in California; with 80% of the workforce employed in companies with less than 100 employees.

Though 3.5 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the US over the past few years, multiple sources indicated that 70% of high tech companies have difficulty filling current manufacturing open positions.

In order to be competitive, California aerospace and related industry suppliers need to provide innovative solutions, continuously improve their capability, reduce costs, improve delivery, and develop/obtain workforce talent. The 21st Century supply chain transformation requires suppliers to go beyond Lean and Six Sigma implementations, to improve design/engineering capability, enhance quality assurance and learn how to operate collaboratively in more complex dynamic flat supplier networks, rather than in traditional static hierarchical supply chains.

The goal of this survey, in support of the US Department of Labor and US Competitive Initiative, is to assist suppliers in California to meet this challenge, enhancing global competitiveness during this transformation.

Survey Incentives

Please respond quickly and to the best of your ability. CSA appreciates your time and does not expect you to do any extensive research or expend excessive time in order to respond; the survey should take approximately 15 - 20 minutes to complete.

To thank you for your responses, you will receive:

1. Survey Results and Recommendations.
2. Inventory of Resources, including potential discounts on some resources.
3. Invitations to attend Supply Chain Network Forums at no cost, conducted at relevant supplier stakeholder sites, such as prime contractors and training providers; content will be driven in part by the results of this survey.
4. Capabilities Assessment opportunity - this survey is correlated with assessment processes, as a first step of supplier capability assessment; complete assessments may be obtained on a contract basis; information will be provided.

Note: Your responses will be collected separately from your contact information in order to keep them anonymous.

Survey Opportunity Drawing

All survey respondents who respond by July 31, 2007 are automatically qualified to enter an opportunity drawing to win one of the following 2 prizes.

  • One winner will win a $100 American Express Gift Certificate
  • One winner will receive a copy of the UPDATED and expanded edition of The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (Updated and Expanded) by Thomas Friedman on your media of choice, delivered via a Borders gift card valued at $40.00.

You may enter the opportunity drawing without completing the survey by printing out and completing this form, and mailing it to: California Space Authority, Supplier Survey Offer, 3201 Airpark Drive, Suite 204, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Must be postmarked by 6/30/07.

Survey Sponsors

This survey is being conducted by the California Space Authority (CSA), a nonprofit, industry-driven, membership-based corporation that represents California's aerospace businesses that support commercial, civil, and national security needs. CSA and these survey results support the US Department of Labor Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) California Innovation Corridor competitive initiative to help develop the aerospace and related high technology industry capability in California. Additional information about CSA and the DoL WIRED initiative can be found at www.californiaspaceauthority.org.

Survey analysis and distribution management is conducted by one of CSA's WIRED partners, Antelope Valley College, a comprehensive community college established in 1929, serving approximately 13,000 students in the heart of California's "Aerospace Valley."

Questions and Comments

Christine Purcell, SPHR
Manager, Industry Workforce & Manufacturing Development
California Space Authority, Inc.
(310) 283-7323
christine.purcell@californiaspaceauthority.org
WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development)
California Innovation Corridor

Go to the Survey (click here)