New Ohio award to help UDRI, Airbus bring MMATH to fruition, boost competitiveness among Ohio aerospace manufacturers

An award from the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) will enable the University of Dayton Research Institute to work with Ohio manufacturers to support aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which is looking to double its spending with U.S. suppliers, as well as other aerospace manufacturers interested in doing business in Ohio. Ohio has pledged a three-year, $1.5 million commitment for the Materials and Manufacturing Aerospace Technology Hub (MMATH) program, which will facilitate connections with, and support to, Ohio businesses that have the desire and potential to become qualified aerospace suppliers.

“Aerospace suppliers must meet a rigorous set of criteria to make sure their operations, equipment and products meet strict safety and delivery standards,” said John Leland, Interim Vice President for Research at the University of Dayton and Director of UDRI. “This funding will allow us to identify and work with Ohio businesses to make them more competitive within the aerospace industry.

With a home base in Toulouse, France, and operations around the globe, Airbus wants to increase its supply base in the United States, said David Williams, Vice President-Procurement, Airbus Americas. Airbus purchased $14.4 billion in aircraft-related products and services in the U.S. in 2013, $6 billion in Ohio alone, Williams said. “Airbus products have always been leading edge in respect to product and process technology, and we are determined to keep that competitive edge,” Williams said. “MMATH and the world-class Ohio aerospace supply base will enable us to maintain our number one position in the market through the state-of-the-art manufacturing processes that will be developed here.”

Williams worked with Lisa Novelli, President and CEO of the National Composite Center in Kettering, to lay the foundation for the MMATH program, while Glenn Richardson, Managing Director of JobsOhio, worked with the ODSA to find a source of state funding to support the program. Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) proved an ideal funding vehicle, said David Goodman, Director of ODSA.

The Ohio MEP helps keep Ohio manufacturers competitive by providing them with needed products, services and other assistance by way of MEP affiliate organizations located throughout the state, Goodman said. UDRI, which specializes in advanced materials and aerospace technologies, also houses FASTLANE, Ohio’s West Central MEP, making it a natural fit to take the lead on MMATH, Goodman added. “This support demonstrates our commitment to the success of Airbus, along with growing Ohio manufacturing jobs in this important industry.”

JobsOhio’s Glenn Richardson said the program and partnership will help Ohio maintain its aerospace leadership. “Ohio is the birthplace of aviation and a global leader in the aerospace industry,” Richardson said. “This new program under our MEP network will allow Airbus to maintain its competitive edge and will help our world-class supplier base grow and innovate well into the future.”

NCC’s Lisa Novelli said the National Composite Center and UDRI will strategically align assets and expertise in aerospace materials and technologies in support of MMATH. “The program’s structure also capitalizes on all the resources available under Ohio’s MEP network to support aerospace supplier needs across multiple technology fields,” Novelli added.

Manufacturers interested in learning more can contact MMATH program director Jessica Ravine Orr, UDRI FASTLANE, at 937-229-1360.

Each year, sponsored research programs at the University of Dayton provide real-world research opportunities to nearly 300 undergraduate and graduate students working with more than 500 professional and faculty researchers from the Research Institute, the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.

May 5, 2015