Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1505694
54 PCB007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023 Use proven technology and proven designs. Basically, go look at everything that's out there. In each category, pick from the best proven designs and turn those proven designs into your aircra design. One of the struggles in business today, as I'm sure you're aware, is the labor market— finding and bringing in good talent. What are you doing in that regard? Sundin: We did something that worked out very well for us. When we started this project we used a lot of experienced engineers, and not too long aer that, we hired junior engineers and trained them. Aaron Park is a good example. He's right out of college and he will work with the expe- rienced engineers. For the most part we have a few senior engineers who oversee things, and we have quite a few younger engineers who are proving to be exceptional. That's a good strategy. However, your indus- try has what I might call "jet-appeal," com- pared to circuit board manufacturing. So, I think young engineers are probably more drawn to an environment like this. Sundin: I think that helps, certainly. It has also helped us to have a lot of cool manufacturing technology. When you walk through the facil- ity, you'll see a lot of advanced manufacturing here, and I think that attracts talent. raw materials, but we produce the tooling, we manufacture it, and we assemble everything. So, while we don't produce raw materials, win- dows, the engine, or the avionics, everything else is made right here in-house. That's great. It's nice to know that there are still things being made in America. Sundin: In aircra manufacturing, I think it's still the only way to go. What is the biggest challenge now, outside of the regulatory process, that you must go through? Sundin: It really does come down to the regu- latory process. We strategize to test everything before we start that process. We've cleared a lot of hurdles, and I would say we have "de- risked" this program as much as possible. It really comes down to this mountain of paper- work that we've got to go through. If someone's looking at starting a manufactur- ing company, what advice would you offer? Sundin: Don't get into aircra manufactur- ing. at is, of course, a joke. If you were going into aircra manufacturing, most importantly, use proven technology and methods. Produc- ing aircra is very, very difficult. And if you have ambitions of producing your own avion- ics or your own engine, you're destined to fail.