VIEW FROM THE TOP
COLLABORATION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME CARLOS ROBLES President of the Mexican Federation for the Aerospace Industry (FEMIA) and Vice President of Bombardier Queretaro
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Q: How has Mexico’s aerospace sector grown and what
Q: What are your main goals as the new President of
are your expectations for 2017?
FEMIA?
A: Since 2004, Mexico’s aerospace sector has grown
A: The key word for Mexican aerospace is collaboration.
15 percent annually. The country began performing
Thus, at FEMIA our priority is to promote collaboration
manufacturing exclusively and gradually entered into
among all clusters in Mexico. During FAMEX we, alongside
maintenance. Now, it is starting to develop its research
the five aero clusters, signed a memorandum to prioritize
capabilities. In the first quarter of 2017, the Ministry of
the needs of the sector using all the capacity and skills
Economy counted 312 industrial facilities for the aerospace
within the clusters. The Mexican aerospace sector has many
industry, of which 80 percent are related to manufacturing,
strengths that we need to capitalize on to improve the
11 to MRO activities and the remaining 9 percent to R&D,
industry’s image at a global level. Signing this agreement
design and engineering. Engine parts designed and
signifies the clusters’ will to act as a team in the interest
manufactured in Mexico are flying all over the world.
of developing the country’s aerospace industry.
In 2016, exports reached US$7.18 billion, which helped us
The second priority is to develop the supply chain. FEMIA
climb from 10th place to become the sixth biggest exporter
has a division in charge of supply-chain development
of aerospace parts to the US, the largest aerospace market
that is identifying the country’s existing capabilities to
in the world. This was achieved in 10 years and our goal is
address existing gaps by attracting foreign investment.
to enter the top three by 2020. The sector also generates
Furthermore, OEMs and Tier 1 companies can develop
over 50,000 jobs in 19 states in Mexico.
their supply chain through FEMIA. Aerospace parts volumes are low. By consolidating the volumes of
US$7.178 billion was exported by aerospace companies in Mexico in 2016
different companies, we can make an attractive package for interested suppliers. Other goals include raising our membership to 100 companies, which we achieved during FAMEX 2017. This year we are celebrating FEMIA’s 10-year anniversary and
Mexico has strong capabilities working with sheet metal
we are analyzing what is next in the federation’s future.
and performing traditional assembly, especially with
Mexico is in a unique situation at this point. We are at
aluminum. We are good manufacturers of CPUs and
the crossroads between continuing as a small industry
harnesses and we are developing skills to manufacture
or expanding.
more composite parts. Moreover, Mexico has capabilities for MRO services, with ventures from Mexicana MRO and
Q: How will FEMIA change to address the needs of the
TechOps Mexico, making the country a destination for
sector?
MRO. This trend is leading other states to develop their
A: The sector and all its members are growing. Safran,
own workshops.
Bombardier and other big players are expanding their plants and diversifying their operations. Many aerospace
Our expectation for 2017 is to reach 60,000 jobs, to have
companies began with simple processes. Now, they have
330 industrial facilities, to surpass US$8 billion in exports
diversified and created complex assembly lines with which
and to reach a 23 percent trade surplus with the US for
they can export to other countries.
aerospace products. Globally, Mexico is ranked 14th for competitive manufacturing platforms and our goal is to
During the past 10 years, FEMIA has built credibility with
be in the top 10 by 2020.
companies and government. Given the critical volume we
