Talent, Investment Necessary to Grow Aerospace Capabilities

Q: How will Marposs’ new Queretaro offices help the company grow in the Mexican market?
A: The bulk of our Queretaro operations will target the aerospace industry and the rest will cater to the measuring needs of local automotive companies. We expect to reach new customers in the aerospace industry as that sector develops locally. The company still has a long way to go in the aerospace industry but Marposs is gaining a solid presence thanks to its investments in Queretaro. On the automotive side, the Bajio region has become one of the most dynamic areas in Mexico thanks to the arrival of OEMs like Honda, Mazda and Volkswagen to Guanajuato. Marposs’ new offices in Queretaro will help the company remain close to these automotive clients and offer quality customer service.
Q: How in line are Mexican graduates with the needs of the aerospace sector?
A: Several schools have been founded in the last 10 to 15 years to cater to that sector. These schools are already graduating the engineers that aerospace companies need. Even if the demand for aerospace talent has not been fully covered, the fact that some Mexican universities now offer degrees focused 100 percent on aerospace careers has been a key step toward reaching that goal.
We look for well-trained professionals with a solid education who can help us develop the capabilities of our company. Marposs sells technology, so having a strong engineering staff is important for our business. This is one reason why graduates from academic institutions like IPN are common among our personnel. Engineers graduated from Mexican schools have the quality level to support companies like Marposs. On the aerospace side, we have also hired some graduates from the Autonomous University of Queretaro who have experience working at aerospace companies, which means they have solid training.
Q: What is Marposs’ strategy to expand its participation in the Mexican aerospace sector?
A: In 2019, Marposs will continue penetrating new regional markets in Mexico by collaborating with the regional aerospace clusters. We have made a great push to open Queretaro’s aerospace cluster and now that we have positioned ourselves in this area, the next step is to dabble in other aerospace-intensive regions, such as Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Chihuahua. We expect to take advantage of the experience the company has gained while supporting Queretaro’s aerospace industry to attract more aerospace clients.
Q: What is Marposs’ strategy to stand out in the measurement-equipment market?
A: Clients look for industrial equipment applications that cater to their specific needs. Even in cases in which two of Marposs’ clients produce the same component, each company will have its own tailor-made solution. For example, the crankshafts used by one carmaker are radically different from those used by other companies, so the measurement applications that Marposs delivers must be customized for each. In that sense, Marposs becomes its clients’ partner because these companies trust that the solution provided by Marposs will meet the specifications required by their production processes. We are engaged with clients since the beginning of the production process and offer advice on how to measure parts.
Q: What are your projections for the growth of advanced-manufacturing sectors in Mexico?
A: Mexico is ready to grow but this growth will not only depend on the performance of companies and universities. All aerospace and automotive players, including the government, must be ready to go the distance to attract FDI. Mexico’s new federal administration, however, seems to be following a route different than previous governments, which has created some uncertainty for investment as companies wait to see the first results. Previous federal administrations placed great importance on FDI attraction, which boosted the growth of Mexico’s aerospace and automotive sectors. If that policy is carried on by the new government, Mexico will continue to grow as a competitive manufacturing destination.

Marposs México is part of Italy-based Marposs Group. The company offers measuring solutions and supplies services and products that improve manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness in ensuring product quality