ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- More than 200 vendors representing private industry, academia, and the Army’s industrial base showcased their manufacturing-related product lines and services during Rock Island Arsenal’s 5th Annual Industry Day at the i wireless Center, Moline, Ill., August 4. In addition to the more than 800 registered attendees, the event also drew hundreds from the local community.
What started five years ago with four exhibits on a loading dock has now grown to more than 200 exhibitors, said Col. James O. Fly, Jr., commander of the Rock Island Arsenal ' Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center.
“We wanted this day to be an opportunity for any local business or industry to display their diverse capabilities and to learn more about each other,” Fly said. “Additionally, the Quad Cities has some of the hardest working men and women in this country and their work was proudly displayed.”
The purpose of the Industry Day is to bring key leaders of private and public industry together to share and showcase their capabilities to support the defense manufacturing industry. It also affords a great opportunity to open discussions between suppliers and potential customers.
Also speaking during the event were Michael Viggato, Deputy to the Commander, TACOM LCMC; and Pat Pinkston, John Deere’s Vice President for Global Platform Services.
During his remarks, Vigatto praised the Rock Island workforce for staying on schedule for the delivery of the M119 howitzer for the last 27 months. He also reinforced Fly’s message of why Rock Island was conducting today’s event.
“Our intent today is not to compete with each other but to work together, to partner with each other so that we all grow,” Vigatto said.
Although there may not be any immediate bump up in additional workload for the exhibitors, anytime you can bring more than 200 like-minded vendors together to share the latest in technology and manufacturing has got to be a huge benefit to them, as well as to Rock Island. The number one benefit from today, however, is that vendors developed new relationships through the sharing of ideas. These relationships may result in new business sometime in the future or simply, educate every exhibitor on a better way to do business.
Rock Island Arsenal is the only vertically-integrated metal manufacture in the Department of the Defense and has been in continuous operation since 1865.
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