Dearborn, MI-The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has entered into an agreement with Hannover Fairs USA (HFUSA) to participate in the Berlin International Air Show in Berlin, Germany, May 27 to June 1, 2008. Europe's largest 2008 air show attracts political, civil and military decision-makers from the developing countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

SME will assemble an international panel discussion on continuous improvement for aerospace manufacturers and their supply chain. The panelists will represent aerospace OEMs and suppliers who will share best practices, benchmarking experiences, process improvements and their lean manufacturing philosophy. In Europe especially, where the euro value is high, adding value to production without adding cost to the customer is essential to a successful manufacturing operation.

“Continuous improvement is increasingly important in the competitive global aerospace market,” said Mark C. Tomlinson, executive director and general manager of SME. “We are very pleased to connect the Berlin Air Show audience with manufacturing experts who can increase their knowledge and understanding of how to increase speed and quality through continuous improvement.”