Defence Welding Capability workshop

Name: Defence Welding Capability workshop
Start: 2019-11-29T09:30:00+13:00
End: 2019-11-29T13:30:00+13:00
Location: HERA House

November 29 @ 9:30 am - 1:30 pm

Defence Welding Capability Workshop | HERA House, Auckland | 29 November | Limited spaces available

About the event

In collaboration with DMTC & New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), we’d like to invite you to attend a workshop on Friday 29 November, 2019 to hear about the opportunities around Australian Defence projects and the technical capabilities required to meet the requirements for the subcontractors.

This is a two stage process. This is the first stage – which consists of explaining DMTC’s Capability Development Program focused on Welding Capability for defence platforms. The objective being to help prepare companies to engage with Defence Primes seeking welding capability for defence projects with either an existing or longer-term capability requirement.

This is in the context of supply chain development requirements established by relevant Defence acquisition programs such as SEA 5000, LAND 400, SEA 1000, etc).

Why attend?

Attending this Workshop provides you with an overview of Australia’s Defence procurement program.

It’ll outline the specific details of the Welding Benchmarking Project, including the project plan, timelines, costs, benefits and more.

The DMTC tries to tailor each Project to the local region and relies on feedback from attendees at this first Workshop to help understand the types of skills and information that participants would most benefit from.

When you RSVP you’ll be asked to complete and submit a capability questionnaire prior to attending the workshop.

Who should attend?

Business owners, Business development managers and technical personnel from the steel fabrication businesses interested in participating as subcontractors in the Australian Defence projects.

Stage 1 – this workshop

You’ll be provided background information on the project and working in the defence sector.

It’ll be followed by the benchmarking welding capability program and a final information sharing workshop (Stage 2).

For the welding capability program, participants will undertake a small welding project of developing their own welding procedure and welding two test plates over the December – January period. With assessment, and a final workshop in late February (date to be confirmed).

Stage 2 – welding capability program

This involves the following steps

Preparation of suitable pWPS,
Welding trials on representative test plates,
Appropriate independent validation testing of the participant’s welds,
Attendance to a second workshop for the sharing of results assessed against best practice and the identification of areas for improvement, and
A final report outlining potential best practice welding processes for defence supply chains and a proposed pathway to address current shortfalls and take advantage of defence opportunities.

Program summary

Australian Defence Industrial Capability Plan

Following the Defence White Paper in 2016 and the Integrated Investment Program in 2016, which laid out the strategic and capital funding requirements for the modernisation of the Australian Defence Force, the first ever Australian Defence Industrial Capability Plan was released in April 2018.

Although most of the work will be done by Defence Primes, a number of lucrative business opportunities will exist for the defence contractors that have adequate capabilities in place. The Plan highlights these opportunities for Australia and New Zealand’s defence industry over the next decade, referring to a sustained partnership between defence and industry.

The Industrial Capability Plan also explicitly defines “Australian” industry to include New Zealand, and New Zealand fabricator contractors can participate in the projects as a result. Consequently Primes are interested to understand capability in New Zealand and encourage innovative New Zealand companies into supply chains.

The DMTC’s Industry Capability Development Program

The DMTC’s Industry Capability Development Program is designed to create a network of ‘Defence-ready’ companies with benchmarked, globally competitive capabilities. Each which would be able to credibly compete for supply chain contract opportunities in future defence acquisition programs, such as the future submarine and future frigate programs.

Companies participating in the program gain exposure to the latest techniques and equipment used in engineering and manufacturing, and insights into quality, safety and certification standards required within defence supply chains.

The DMTC industry capability development programs focus on developing engineering, manufacturing and technical capability in metals manufacturing for defence applications. Projects include a process benchmarking and technology transfer activity involving universities and other publicly funded research organisations in partnership with manufacturing businesses.

The program will create an environment that allows for collaboration between companies and builds regional capacity in order to present a critical mass of capability to the market.

Each project is designed to accommodate a minimum of five companies. This program focuses on the welding of high strength steel for defence platforms in maritime and land vehicles. This is the same initiative the DMTC recently ran that was covered in Defence Connect.

Program outcomes

The Welding Capability workshop outcomes

The outcomes for companies participating in the above program will be:

Education on the latest techniques and processes in welding high strength steels
Information on the international standards and processes required for the defence sector
Access to the latest automated welding techniques and equipment
A recommended pathway to welding practice improvement
A mechanism to network and collaborate to establish a critical mass of capability in the region

Characteristics for engagement

The aim it that this project contributes to the next level of collaboration around Australia and New Zealand.

It’s anticipated that companies from the other projects (who have the following characteristics), will participate in further engagement around Defence opportunities:

At a minimum, capable of complying to the welding standard (AS/NZS 1554)
An interest in entering the defence supply chain
Willingness to collaborate and share knowledge

Agenda

09:00 Registration and coffee
09:30 Welcome (HERA / NZTE / DMTC)
09:40 Australian defence market – opportunities and challenges for NZ business (Graeme Solloway, NZTE)
10:15 DMTC and Project Background (Miles Kenyon, DMTC)
10:35 Welding high strength steel for defence applications (Dr Stephen van Duin, DMTC)
11:10 Project Details (Dr Stephen van Duin, DMTC)
11:40 Project Administration (Miles Kenyon, DMTC)
11:50 Q&A
12:00 Networking and light Lunch

Presenters

Stephen van Duin | Associate Professor

I’m a Program Leader within DMTC Ltd and I’m currently leading the Maritime program whose researchers are developing new materials technology and capabilities in Australia with a specific focus on Australia’s SEA5000 Future Frigate requirements.

I began my career as a Mechanical Engineer in the heavy steel industry before moving to a research academic position within the University of Wollongong in 1997. I’ve received Graduate Certificate in Business Management from the University in 2004 and my Doctoral degree at the same university in 2006.

I’m currently a Principal Research Fellow in the research area of Industrial Automation and Robotics.

Miles Kenyon | Head of Maritime Strategy, DMTC Ltd

I lead the development and implementation of new strategic opportunities for DMTC’s Maritime Program, including leading and managing engagement across Defence, Government, Defence Science and Technology Group, Industry and Research stakeholders.

I began my career as an Aerospace Engineer, working on the JSF and Boing 787 programs before moving into various business development and technology transfer management roles in the Aerospace and Defence sectors.

I also have a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Swinburne University of Technology.

Graeme Solloway | Australia Defence Program, NZTE

I am currently the leader of the Australia Defence Programme at NZTE, the New Zealand government business development agency. The programme aims to identify, prepare, connect and amplify New Zealand firms that have the ambition and capability to work in the defence sector in Australia.

This is a NZ Inc effort, supported by colleagues at NZTE in New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand High Commission in Canberra, NZDF, MBIE and Callaghan Innovation.

Prior to this work, I was responsible for key stakeholder relationships and for business development in the Pacific Islands. Previously I led NZTE’s work in the marine sector, working with companies in the areas of marine equipment and electronics, advanced materials, supply chain integration and high-performance boats for recreational and commercial purposes.

From 2008 to 2012, I was New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the Republic of Korea, based in Seoul.