SC Aerospace, an industry cluster supported by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, has partnered with SC Biz and SCMEP to present the 2019 SC Manufacturing Conference and Expo.  This two-day event will be held October 29 – 30, 2019 at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC and is expected to draw over 3,000 attendees from across the region.

The partnership between SC Biz, SCMEP, and the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’ SC Aerospace cluster demonstrates growing collaboration in state-wide efforts to keep South Carolina’s industrial communities connected and at the forefront of advanced technology and emerging trends.

“The Council’s core mission is to advance South Carolina’s long-term, economic growth,” said Susie Shannon, President, and CEO of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness.  “As stewards of the state’s aerospace and logistics clusters, it is a natural fit for us to form a partnership with the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo.”

Adrianne Beasley, Director of Aerospace Initiatives for the Council, said that South Carolina’s aerospace industry has experienced exponential growth over the past several years and this partnership comes at an ideal time. “The unique needs of the state’s aerospace industry continue to evolve and SC Aerospace is developing and strengthening a number of relationships this year to bring additional value to our stakeholders. We’re excited to be a part of the 2019 manufacturing conference and provide another opportunity for our aerospace leaders to come together, make business connections, and work collectively to make South Carolina’s aerospace and manufacturing industries as competitive as possible.”

This is the fourth annual SC Manufacturing Conference and Expo and it has become one of the largest manufacturing events in the Southeast.  Rick Jenkins, SC Biz News Publisher, said that the Council and SC Aerospace will bring a new energy to the event.  “We always want to take a look at how we can provide a value add to the attendees and expand on the subject matter covered during the two days of the conference.  With the Council and SC Aerospace on hand as aerospace subject-matter experts, this partnership allows us to more deeply explore the aerospace industry particularly as it relates to aircraft and aerospace manufacturing.” 

Events for the 2019 conference will include: the Salute to Manufacturing Awards Luncheon, Aerospace Luncheon, 2020 Auto & Aerospace Economic Forecast, Workforce Development Breakfast, Executive Women’s Panel, Manufacturing Apprenticeship Breakfast, a dozen courses for manufacturing executives, VIP cocktail receptions, VIP dinners, and MUCH more!

In addition, the expo will be large enough to set up on two football fields of space.  Exhibitors, who traditionally come from more than a dozen states, will have the opportunity to meet individually with 20+ OEMs and 1st tier suppliers from across South Carolina in a business-to-business matchmaking session coordinated by the SC Dept. of Commerce with the help of SC Aerospace.

Registration and conference details are available at www.scmanufacturingconference.com.

###

SC Biz News is the market leader in business publishing in South Carolina. We publish print and digital business news in the three major metro areas of the state: the Lowcountry (Charleston Regional Business Journal), the Midlands (Columbia Regional Business Report) and the Upstate (GSA Business Report). Our custom media materials develop and position your brand and strengthen relationships with other businesses, the community and the state.

The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (the Council) is a nonpartisan, business-led, nonprofit organization that drives South Carolina’s long-term economic growth by stewarding the state’s industry clusters and providing the research, network, and resources that industry clusters require to thrive.

SC Aerospace is an industry cluster supported by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, the SC Department of Commerce, and industry partners. It was established in 2014 as a collaborative effort among public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors to advance and market South Carolina’s aerospace industry cluster on the global stage. SC Aerospace is regarded as a thought leader for the industry on a regional and national level.  Thus, SC Aerospace and its leadership team are frequently asked to provide input on emerging trends, serve as a main point of contact for existing industry engagement, and connect the industry’s assets to secure future growth.

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) is a private, non-profit group that serves as a proven resource to South Carolina businesses, providing them with a range of innovative strategies and solutions. An affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), SCMEP operates under the US Department of Commerce to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness.