COG Newsletter February 2011
Facing the Future - Graeme Rumnney Read
Is there room for improvement? - Michael Farmer Read
COG Update - Ian Blackman Read
Members News Read
Facing the future
Welcome to this, the first on-line issue of the COG
newsletter. When Ian gave me a gentle
nudge to put something together, I realised that I'm now over six months into
my twelve-month stint as Chairman.
Fortunately, I can still say that I'm pleased to have been given the
opportunity to take on the role, despite a busy schedule at work. Being chair is a challenge which seems to
throw something new and different at me, almost on a weekly basis. Despite the differences geographically
between Cumbria and "The South", I still manage to communicate regularly with the
COG secretariat and my vice-chairman, with a record of seven telephone calls
with Michael Farmer in a single day!
The arrangements for the 2011 conference are taking shape, and I now have a real appreciation of the amount of effort required to create this event. Planning and overseeing the conference really does take a lot of time and attention, and the Conference Group are working hard to ensure that the event is of the highest quality, and worthy of its international standing. We now have many abstracts for papers on subjects which we feel will be of value to you. Indeed, by the time you read this, the deadline for papers will almost certainly have closed, and we will begin the process of reviewing and selecting those to be taken forward to the conference. Of course, as members, you can help us by registering for the event early, giving us the confidence that it will be successful from financial, educational and networking perspectives.
So, the government spending review has been and gone, and we are now much clearer on the impacts, which included Nimrod, Harrier and Aircraft Carriers. BAE Systems have been one of the first to respond, with around 1,400 job losses planned and, whilst some of these were expected anyway in the not too distant future, their loss will still be no less keenly felt.
Just what this really means for the COG community is still likely to be a changing picture. It is clear however that obsolescence programmes associated with Harrier and Nimrod will be directly affected. However, far from being a disaster, we should look to the opportunities as they present themselves. In times of economic crisis, it is easy to look at proactive obsolescence management as an overhead - can we sell the concept in a different way which extols the financial benefits of the approach?
Obviously, COG also needs to anticipate, and respond to, the potential challenges resulting from financial austerity, and the Steering Group has decided to reduce the number of regular meetings from four per year to two. This measure will be implemented next year (a conference year), so the reality is that there will actually be three opportunities for the COG community to get together. Michael's column provides an insight into the issues we have had to consider and address for the regular meetings.
Finally, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support in the first half of my tenure as Chairman, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2011.
Graeme Rumney
Chairman, COG UK
Is there room for improvement?
The delivery of quarterly meetings is always difficult: Is there enough content, can we find more; what should we include; what should we leave out; where will it be; have we a sponsor; can we find a sponsor; what about this; what about that? The list seems endless. And as soon as one meeting finishes, the planning for the next must start. more..
An added factor is that, except for the COG Office staff, everyone is a volunteer; there are no demands and the presenters and Steering Group (SG) members freely give their time. So the management and arrangement of these events, including the biennial conference, is never straightforward. There's neither a cabinet full of presentations nor an army of presenters - one bunch of volunteers (the Steering Group) must seek another bunch of volunteers (the presenters). Of course, a presenter is sometimes a Steering Group member; but we can't rely on that. COG is not the Steering Group. As the name suggests, the Steering Group is there to 'steer', i.e. to agree and provide direction for COG.
One of my tasks as COG's vice-chairman is the responsibility to seek out and arrange content for our quarterly meetings. I've inherited this duty from my predecessors and found, like them, that it's not an easy task and sometimes an uphill struggle. Luckily, I'm not alone in this endeavour: there's excellent support from Ian, Chris and Sue at the COG Office and, of course, other SG volunteers. But, unless we get ideas and volunteers from the membership itself, then any effort is wasted and there will be no meeting.
I've started to look at our past meetings: attendance, location, sponsorship, etc. and Ian and his staff have provided some metrics; I don't yet know what these will tell us but I hope to be able to derive an optimal approach for future meetings. Also, the Steering Group will be looking at the number and format as well as the content of our meetings. In this task, I'm hoping that you, our members, will help with objective comments. At the end of each meeting, Ian and his staff collect the feedback questionnaires which provide an indication of how successful a meeting has been - please make sure you fill yours in, we need and value that feedback.
In addition, we need to look forward: it's not enough to see just what you thought of what you have seen. We need to know what you would like to see; areas where you think that meetings can improve. There is space for this on the questionnaires but you can also ring me or drop me an email - the more feedback you can give, the better. If any of you wish your comments to be made in confidence, don't worry, I won't release your name and only take forward your comment or idea. Of course, for those that are not so reticent, I will make sure that they receive due recognition.
Michael Farmer
Vice-Chairman, COG UK
COG Update
New COG Members
IQD Frequency Products is a recognised market leader in the frequency control market. Their comprehensive frequency-product range covers low-cost commercial-grade crystals and oscillators to versions for high-reliability military and professional-grade applications. www.iqdfrequencyproducts.com
BAE Systems, Australia. based in Nowra, New South Wales, is Australia's largest defence company, offering key skills in engineering and systems integration. The company employs more than 6,500 people who support customers at 70 locations around Australia. www.baesystems.com/Businesses/BAESystemsAustralia/index.htm
Cobham Antenna Systems is a world
leader in the design and manufacture of communication systems and navigation
antennas that enable people and systems to communicate on land, in the air and
at sea.
www.cobham.com
Princeps
Electronics is an independent, non-franchised
distributor of electronic components and associated products as well as
offering product enhancement services.
www.princeps.co.uk
Cassidian Test & Services, UK, formerly known as EADS Test Systems, designs global test solutions for equipment and systems used in the aeronautics, defence and space sectors. www.cassidian.com/cassidian/int/en/business-activities/test-systems.html
COG Milestones 2010
Throughout 2010 a number of significant achievements have helped to extend the influence and effectiveness of COG.
- Contribution to the Helicopter Sustainability conference and growing links with the organisers, IQPC.
- Successful Quarterly Meetings with an average attendance of 60 delegates
- Member Workshops which 96% of delegates rated as good or excellent
- Measuring the Performance of an Obsolescence Management Strategy (Jan)
- Selecting an Obsolescence Monitoring Tool (July)
- Planned Upgrades (December)
CDs of the content of workshops are available to buy from the COG shop https://www.cog.org.uk/secure/shop.asp
- Positive discussions with potential secretariats for COG Italy & COG France
- Contribution to the UKEA Anti-Counterfeiting event held in October 2010.
- Formation of a new working group called the End User Group.
- Liaison with Nu-Tech Associates to grow membership from the nuclear industry.
- Publication of the Counterfeit Electronic Component Minefield guidance booklet.
COG Diary 2011
| Jan 27-28 | Ageing Aircraft Conference 2011, London www.iqpc.com/Event.aspx?id=380728 |
| Feb 16-17 | Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2011, Farnborough. mail.colnedata.co.uk/events/etes.asp |
| Mar 2-3 | COG Members; Meeting (provisional) |
| Mar 16 | COG Workshop: Qualification & Re-qualification, Wyboston Lakes |
| Jun 28-30 | COG International
Conference, York www.regonline.co.uk/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=881123 Follow the conference on Facebook en-gb.facebook.com/pages/COG-International-Conference-2011/162521120449612 |
| Nov 16-17 | COG Members' Meeting (provisional) |
Members News
Distribution agreement leads to five new lines for APC-Novacom
Advanced Power Components plc has signed an agreement with Ceramic & Microwave Products (CMP), part of Dover Electronic Technologies, to act as distributor and representative for five electronic component and system manufacturers within CMP. The agreement, gives APC exclusive relationships with Dow-Key Microwave, K&L Microwave and Pole/Zero Corporation, and non-exclusive agreements with Novacap and Syfer. The new lines are in addition to APC`s existing exclusive relationships with Dielectric Laboratories and Voltronics Corporation.
Charcroft franchised by Barker Microfarads (BMI)
Charcroft Electronics has signed a franchise agreement with Barker
Microfarads (BMI) to sell BMI's aluminium electrolytic and AC motor-start
capacitors to customers throughout Europe. BMI aluminium electrolytic
capacitors are used extensively in military, aerospace and avionics
applications, whilst applications for the AC starter capacitors include
electric motors, pumps and compressors. info@charcroft.com
CMCA
(UK) has announced that they are to undertake component
monitoring on behalf of a major Australian Prime Contractor. CMCA's Nigel
Wallis, comments, "This substantiates that the two nations have similar
equipments and therefore similar issues with obsolescence. The awarding of this
contract confirms that CMCA's bespoke solution is applicable worldwide and to
diverse organisations." CMCA has also gained accreditation to ISO9001:2008 and
has recruited a new Business Support Manager responsible for QA, Health and
Safety and Environmental policy. Nigel.Wallis@cmcauk.co.uk
CTG selected by Lockheed Martin & DLA
Crestwood Technology Group (CTG) Corp., has been recognised by Lockheed Martin as an outstanding small business provider, with a Simulation, Training & Support Small Business of the Year award for the consistent provision of outstanding support and products throughout 2009. CTG has also joined an elite list of just 25 distributors, worldwide, who are included on the Defense Logistics Agency's Qualified Suppliers List of Distributors (QSLD) for FSC 5961 and 5962.
ITRI Innovation expands analytical services
ITRI Innovation has expanded their materials testing facility with investment in a range of next-generation laboratory equipment that complements their existing capabilities for the delivery of chemical, physical and microstructural analysis.
Wave
Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy provides fully quantitative detection of elements
including excellent light element detection and analysis of unknown samples,
whilst Fourier Transform Infrared with ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) allows
faster sampling of a wide range of solids, liquids and gases.
mark.berrisford@itri.co.uk
Acquisition of Chip Supply by Micross Components
Micross Components has acquired Chip Supply, Inc., a world renowned source for semiconductor die and specialised packaging solutions, located in Orlando, Florida, USA. According to Micross CEO, Alan Taylor, "The acquisition supports Micross' strategy of continued growth that will enhance their electronic component products and services capabilities to customers, broadening their reach around the world while continuing to improve efficiency."
PartMiner introduces Connect ES V8 & free access to CAPS™ Basic
PartMiner WorldWide Inc. has released a free basic view of the CAPS Database to assist buyers and engineers with component research. CAPS Basic provides free access to top-level information via single part searching of more than 150 million parts on PartMiner's CAPS™ technical component database. PartMiner has also released version 8.0 of the CAPS™ Connect ES Platform, which expands the system's cross reference capabilities, providing design engineers with a complete set of replacement parts for electronic components.