Easier Domestic Sourcing of Components
With our well-established network, Snowline can prioritize sourcing components and materials from domestic vendors to reduce your project’s dependency on foreign suppliers. We can also more easily ramp up production to meet the increased demand seen sporadically throughout the defense industry. Sometimes, that’s the difference between keeping critical components in stock versus waiting additional weeks or potential months for international shipping.

Better Collaboration and Communication
Collaboration between defense contractors and manufacturers is key to establishing effective supply chain management. Of course, as most customers who have dealt with offshore manufacturing will attest, timely communication and responsive collaboration is typically much easier when you partner with an American manufacturer.

Furthermore, collaborating with domestic producers facilitates better forecasting of demand and helps us rapidly address any manufacturing challenges that arise to keep your project on track.

Lean, Just-in-Time (JIT) Manufacturing Practices
At Snowline, we keep the manufacturing process as lean as possible and provide just-in-time production scheduling when possible to minimize defense contractors’ inventory costs.

Traditionally, JIT manufacturing would leave you vulnerable to supply chain disruptions with minimal backup inventory. Obviously, this is unacceptable for critical defense industry products. That’s why Snowline carefully manages future production planning, balancing out inventory levels with JIT practices to keep the process as lean and cost-effective as possible without running into shortages.

Avoiding the Risks of International Shipping
American defense and military manufacturers offer the additional benefit of streamlined shipping and transportation. Our finished products travel only domestically, from California to our customers’ doors. With Snowline, you don’t run the risk of your products being delayed due to international shipping disruptions or getting stuck at port when you need them the most.

Unlike laser cutters, waterjet machines minimize the heat-affected zone on the workpiece which reduces the risk of material distortion and deformation.

Waterjet is therefore the optimum precision cutting method for materials that are flammable or otherwise highly sensitive to heat.

Waterjet also does not produce hazardous vapors and other byproducts. Laser cutting machines, on the other hand, vaporize the material and therefore typically require complicated ventilation systems.

Typically, waterjet cuts achieve a smooth, burr-free edge, while laser cuts tend to be rougher, potentially requiring additional post-processing.

Waterjet is a suitable method for cutting extremely thick materials and metal plates, typically up to ~300mm in thickness.

Waterjet offers high precision to produce intricate designs and complex components – though generally not quite as precise or repeatable as laser cutting.

Essentially, manufacturing converts raw materials into finished products through the use of advanced tools like CNC machines. A basic manufacturer will turn your designs and specifications into finished products, but will remain otherwise uninvolved in your project.

In contrast, production is a much broader term that includes all of the overarching processes and services associated with manufacturing. Production typically consists of scheduling and controlling the allocation of all resources needed for your project. That includes facility management, labor, the actual machining services, as well as the allocation of raw materials and individual components into secondary production processes. In other words, production includes all of the human labor, the machinery, materials and processes that we use to create a finished product.

As a full-service production machining company, Snowline can truly take your project from concept to completion.

It’s crucial for aerospace fabrication companies to stay up-to-date on the latest revisions of AWS standards to continually deliver the best welding services possible. That’s why AWS certification entails superior manufacturing quality – it’s basically an ongoing commitment to achieving weld precision and repeatability.

Understanding the AWS D17.1 Standard – Aerospace manufacturers like Snowline must remain familiar with all guidelines laid out in the AWS D17.1 standard. As the flight sector continues to evolve, the requirements and guidelines for fusion welding –  including materials, fabrication processes, and quality control – also evolve to meet new challenges that the industry brings to the table.

Continuous Training and Education for Our Employees – AWS certification demands experienced welders who are highly trained, educated, and qualified. Quality control inspectors must also be well-versed in all of the strict requirements of AWS D17.1 so that they know exactly what manufacturing errors to look for. At Snowline, we’re committed to providing our employees with all of the tools and ongoing training they need to get these jobs done with the precision they deserve.

A Robust Quality Management System – All fabricated aerospace products must be checked and supported by a robust quality control process designed around the standards of AWS D17.1 and other guidelines. For example, Snowline is also an AS9100D certified aerospace manufacturer. We combine these and other extremely strict manufacturing standards to ensure we can meet the ever-changing needs of the aviation industry.

Product Inspection and Testing – In addition to general quality control, AWS D17.1 lays out specific inspection and testing processes for custom welded components. For example, the standard outlines specific requirements for non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and acceptance criteria, ensuring the end products perform reliably as expected. /span>

Welding Procedure Guidelines – At Snowline, we have developed specific welding procedures that meet the standards outlined in AWS D17.1. This involves creating detailed documentation and training protocols for how welding will be performed in our California-based facility, including the materials, equipment, and techniques used for each unique project.

Detailed Documentation of All Fabrication Process – A crucial but often overlooked step in custom welding projects, AWS D17.1 requires thorough documentation of all welding processes, inspections, and test results. This documentation is essential in performing the audits and certification necessary for modern aircraft parts, aerospace components, and defense industry products.

AWS D17.1 Auditing and Certification – Going a step beyond internal documentation, an accredited certification agency audits our welding processes to verify compliance with all AWS D17.1 standards. This third-party verification of our procedures and quality further assures our customers that we can meet the precision standards that their products require.

Continual Improvement – The quality-assurance process doesn’t simply stop after certification. In our day-to-day operations, we continue to monitor and improve all of our welding processes as well as our quality control procedures. Our goal is not only to meet the strict requirements of AWS D17.1, but to exceed them and remain at the forefront of the American aerospace manufacturing industry.

Shorter Lead Times – At Snowline, all products are manufactured, processed, and assembled in-house, cutting down on production time and removing shipping delays between vendors.

Savings in Cost, Time, and Logistical Complexity – A simpler, more streamlined turnkey manufacturing plan not only saves labor costs, it saves you all the time and logistical headaches that you would otherwise face in orchestrating multiple contract manufacturers.

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) – Snowline is backed by more than 55 years of precision aerospace fabrication experience. We intimately understand aspects of design and engineering that allow us to help each customer achieve an optimum product design for manufacturing, thus minimizing costs and maximizing sustainability.

Starting Early with Skills Training and Education – The rapid advancement of modern manufacturing technology and processes demands workers who possess both a broad skill set and highly specialized training with the tools of the trade. For the former, workforce development programs must begin early, before or at the high school level, and continue on through college to ultimately provide the next generation of manufacturing professionals with all of the skills they’ll need.

Synchronizing the Classroom with Real-World Skills – Close collaboration between manufacturing companies and educational institutions is crucial. Early collaboration ensures that the education and training programs offered are both relevant to the market and up-to-date on technology, bridging the gap between classroom learning and the factory floor.

Changing Perceptions on Careers in Manufacturing – Throughout recent decades, there has been a misguided general perception that manufacturing jobs are predominantly low-skilled, physically exhausting, and relatively low-paying. That couldn’t be further from the truth in the domestic manufacturing sector of today, with an abundance of well-paying, highly-skilled positions available, requiring workers who can operate some of the most advanced technological tools on the market.

Through diverse workforce development programs, efforts can be made to change this perception on a societal level, highlighting the industry’s technological advancements, competitive salaries, career growth opportunities, and the positive impact on local economies – all of which will help attract new talent.