Attracting and Developing Professional Manufacturing Engineers - An Air Force Viewpoint

Although the military services are enjoined through directives from competing with industry in manufacturing they, nonetheless, have a distinct need for attracting and developing professional manufacturing engineers. During the past five years those agencies responsible for procurement of major weapon systems have been faced with the increasing criticality to national survival of meeting predicted performance, cost, and schedule goals, and also changes toward fixed price and incentive contracts. A review is made of how the Air Force Contract Management Division (AFSC) is solving the problem; job opportunities in industrial engineering for professional growth and career progression are cited, and examples of accomplishment are given.