Arizona Veterans StandDown Organization: Providing Better Lives for U.S. Veterans

This Thursday and Friday, January 28th and 29th, the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance (AVSA) is hosting their annual Maricopa County StandDown. The two day event will take place at the Arizona State Fairgrounds Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Its goal is to bring homeless and at-risk military veterans together to provide greater access to resources such as housing, healthcare, and other necessities. In addition, the event also provides a forum for these American heros to network with community leaders, establishing connections that can lead to employment opportunities and greater independence.

As a former soldier in the 25th Infantry Division, the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance is an organization that is very close to my heart. The unemployment rate among veterans is disproportionately high when compared to the civilian population. Given the sacrifices our veterans made for this country, this is a travesty. Not only do our former soldiers deserve better, military training provides an unparallelled sense of duty, leadership and attention to detail that is an asset to any industry. That’s why when recruiting talent for my own manufacturing company, DNKB, Inc., I looked to American Veterans:

Andre Fisher, AVSA Success Story: 

Like so many other American Veterans, Andre Fisher had fallen on difficult times. Though working for a non-profit organization while running his own computer repair business, Andre was unable to keep up with his monthly mortgage payments and was facing foreclosure. He turned to the VA for assistance, and they advised him to attend the 2015 Arizona StandDown event. There, Andre learned of a program that provides housing and other assistance to veterans in crisis. He was deemed eligible for the program and moved into a veteran housing facility shortly thereafter. In his first week of residence, Andre met with a Workforce Manager named Dennis Woods to discuss his situation and background. Dennis and I had crossed paths at various VA functions and he knew I was in need of an Engineer with startup experience, who could develop and implement processes and quality control for my burgeoning manufacturing business. When he discovered Andre’s engineering and project management background, he recommended that we meet. It didn’t take long to conclude that Andre was an excellent fit for the role, and he soon began his tenure as DNKB’s Senior Engineering Director in March 2015.

Today, Andre is an integral part of the DNKB family. The leadership skills and training he received in the Armed Forces are proving to be instrumental to the continued growth and success of DNKB, Inc. The tremendous work that the AVSA does made this all possible. No one can articulate the true value of the event better than Andre:

“The Arizona Veterans StandDown is a huge event for veterans. It’s amazing that almost any problem or issue a veteran is having can be addressed: Healthcare, Nutrition Assistance, Housing just to name a few. These and many more services are available free of charge.”

           

-       Andre Fisher, United States Air Force Veteran

The AVSA has the full support of DNKB, Inc. This year we will be providing a survival kit for any Homeless Hero veteran in need of assistance. We encourage anyone interested  with veterans issues to help us share Andre’s story and spread the word about the AVSA StandDown. For more information, you can visit them on Facebook.

Benefits of Sub-Assembly

In a business environment that is as competitive, rapidly changing, and expensive as it is today, every advantage that manufactures can gain is critical. Sub-assembly enables them to outsource the design and assembly of units that will ultimately be incorporated into their larger product/service offerings. 

What benefits does sub-assembly deliver to those in the commercial, aerospace, medical device, and government sectors?

While advantages are numerous, here are the top five ways that sub-assembly benefits organizations:

1. Cost-savings. The burden of supporting manufacturing infrastructure and training employees is increasingly heavy. Manufacturers can offload this responsibility to a contractor that has the capability to handle the complex requirements of assembly.
2. Improved efficiency. Innovative assembly and kitting solutions ensure that organizations can streamline their internal processes. This enables them to reduce waste and redundancy in their supply chain. Assemblies, parts, and components are where they are needed, when they are needed. There is no wasted time searching for this part or that component or reworking materials.
3. Reduced risk. The assembly contractor assumes the risk for damage, waste, scrap, operational incidents, and accidents. They “own” this piece of the process and the associated risk.
4. Reduced waste. Sub-assembly enables organizations to reduce waste within their own companies by mitigating excess packaging, extraneous transportation, and, ultimately, environmentally-harmful debris/trash.
5. Increased quality. Sub-assembly contractors are highly skilled and trained; their own internal quality management processes (including adherence to the stringent ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100C standards) ensure that assemblies are manufactured precisely to specs and are consistently defect-free. Any production issues or problems will be identified – and resolved – at the source.

Opting to outsource to assembly subcontractors is a weighty decision; businesses and agencies should be careful to thoroughly vet their contractors to ensure they can deliver these benefits, and many more.

The Importance of a Qualified Aerospace Assembly Contractor

Through determination, precision and relentless commitment, the aerospace industry has grown from a dream into one of the largest manufacturing businesses in the world. In order to remain competitive, companies need to rely on assembly contractors with the qualifications to get the job done right. As an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Contractor, DNKB, Inc. of Phoenix has the pedigree to fulfill your aerospace manufacturing needs. To learn more, call us at or visit us online. https://goo.gl/zOXOTM

What to Look for in An Aerospace Assembly Contractor

While he doesn’t have wings, man was made to fly. The aerospace industry makes it possible, advancing the science of both aeronautics and astronautics while pushing their boundaries further into uncharted territory. Commercial and military industries depend on the highest level of quality, the greatest precision, and the utmost attention to detail to maintain optimal safety and efficiency. Aerospace contract assembly can allow them to develop the innovations they need with confidence and assurance.

Setting the Standard for Aerospace Excellence

Choosing a skilled, experienced partner with the ability to meet complex aerospace manufacturing standards is critical.Two indicators of excellence are:

1. ISO 9001:2008 Certification

ISO, or the International Organization for Standardization, is a voluntary organization that develops international standards to ensure that businesses deliver consistently outstanding results. ISO 9001:2008 focuses on quality management. Businesses that earn this certification demonstrate an ongoing commitment to safety, efficiency, and quality. They document, review, assess, and improve each process to maximize value and minimize waste. The goal is to meet customer and regulatory requirements – every time.

2. AS9100C

AS9100C is based on the ISO standard mentioned above. Whereas ISO 9001:2008 is intended to be generic enough to include all businesses regardless of size or industry, AS9100C specifically applies to the aviation, space, and defense industries. It too requires a rigorous quality management system, including thorough documentation that enables repeatable and improvable processes. Also required are clear roles/authorities expectations, a review system, and sufficient infrastructure.

The focus of both the ISO and AS standards is on continuous improvement and meeting the needs of customers.

Due to advanced technology involved, aerospace organizations should be cautious when selecting an assembly contractor; certification in these two standards indicates a high level of quality – but also a continuing commitment to improving the customer experience and the end-product.

Providing US Veterans a Promising Future

One of the top concerns of US Veterans upon returning home from service is the ability to make a living and provide for their families. DNKB, Inc. of Phoenix is U.S. Veteran owned and operated. We pride ourselves on utilizing the skills and talents of our American heroes by providing jobs in kitting and manufacturing assemble. Give us a call at 480-659-7703 or click to learn more. https://goo.gl/3zuF3y