At an awards ceremony on Nov 7., the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) announced that the operations team led by Benoit Beaudoin at Pratt & Whitney Canada are the recipients of the 2017 James C. Floyd Award for Aerospace Achievement in recognition of their important contributions to Canadian aerospace success, both domestically and in the global marketplace.

“The creation of the Mirabel Aerospace Centre and the Advanced Manufacturing Centres are a significant achievement that have revolutionized manufacturing innovation and productivity not only for Pratt & Whitney Canada, but for [its] Canadian aerospace suppliers and partners as well,” said Jim Quick, president and chief executive officer of AIAC.

“Mr. Beaudoin and his team have led the development of next-generation advanced manufacturing facilities and processes, making Canadian aerospace more competitive and creating new opportunities for Canadian aerospace employees. We are proud to congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition of their success.”

“Innovation is at the heart of what we do at Pratt & Whitney Canada, and we are honoured to accept this in recognition of our investment in advanced manufacturing technology and the skills of our Canadian workforce,” said Beaudoin, vice-president of operations at Pratt & Whitney Canada.  “What we accomplished at the Mirabel Aerospace Centre and the Advanced Manufacturing Centres was truly a collaborative effort, bearing the fingerprints of many members of the aerospace industry; all of whom embraced the challenge of creating a blueprint for the future of Canadian aerospace manufacturing.”

Beaudoin and his team led the industrialization of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Mirabel Aerospace Centre and the development of its Advanced Manufacturing Centres in Longueuil, Que., and Halifax, N.S., working with over 40 suppliers, universities and colleges over the course of the projects’ development. These next-generation aerospace facilities, which include best-in-class productivity and machining capability, raise industry standards for lean manufacturing, health and safety, environmental sustainability and high-performance work systems. The results demonstrate the innovation and technologies that will be needed to maintain Canada as a global leader in aerospace manufacturing in the future.