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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, June 8, 2007 Keeping pace with aerospace Officials at Thursday's Aerospace Industry Summit in Everett targeted a primary goal: workforce development to meet new demands. By Michelle Dunlop / Herald Writer EVERETT - While the Boeing Co. assembles its cutting edge 787 airplane, Snohomish County needs to build up its labor force with the engineers and skilled workers of tomorrow. "We are building tomorrow's engineers on yesterday's technology," said Erick Van Houtte, with Dassault Systemes. Van Houtte joined about 60 representatives from industry, government and the education community at the Aerospace Industry Summit held Thursday in Everett. The foremost issue on everyone's mind: how to meet the workforce demand of the aerospace industry. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said workforce development was a concern in 2003 when the Legislature passed tax incentives to entice Boeing to assemble its 787 jet in Everett. "We knew ... the challenge would be the workforce," Reardon said. "We could outpace our skill set." Four years later, the concern is becoming a reality for some aerospace companies. Many businesses are looking to middle schools and high schools for future employees. Van Houtte's Dassault created a software program that allowed Boeing and its global suppliers to virtually assemble its 787 long before the plane's physical structures had been completed. The mostly composite 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to roll out of Boeing's Everett plant July 8. "What Boeing is doing is leading edge," Van Houtte said. "It's the future, today." What isn't leading edge, Van Houtte said, is the education system, not just in Snohomish County but across North America. It's a system that doesn't produce enough engineers; it's a system that doesn't encourage students to pursue skilled technical work Making matters worse, the region not only isn't producing enough aerospace workers to keep up with demand, but it will also lose hordes of existing aerospace employees to retirement over the next several years. Carol Evanoff, with Lockheed Martin, said that of the more than 300 employees she supervises, nearly half will be eligible for retirement in three years. The average age of employees at the aerospace company is 50 years old, she said. To meet this demand, companies need to pair with the education system to promote their needs, to encourage young people to pursue careers in aerospace, Van Houtte said "We are the ones who need to go the high schools," he said.

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