Upcoming Events

12 - 1 pm CST

Free for Members
$39 for Non-Members

Architectural projects are notoriously complex, circuitous, and lengthy. Every project can involve hundreds of players, thousands of decisions, and millions of dollars. This makes sense considering that each building is custom designed for a specific site, climate and particular client’s needs. Generally speaking, economies of scale rarely exist. With virtually no exposure to fabric in any architectural school curriculum, how can the FSA educate the A&D community about fabric structures and provide ongoing support for their evaluation and specification as building components? The answer is by creating broad industry awareness of product capabilities and applications while developing ongoing personal relationships with individual architects and architectural librarians.

1 - 2 pm CST

Free for Members
$39 for Non-Members

Business can grow in size, or stature. Either way, setting yourself with a modern web design and tools to streamline incoming projects, will give a sense of professionalism and respect to both the fabricator and the client, no matter the size of the current business, or your production capabilities. Learn from my experience as a operator of a small shop. I’ll take you through go-to phrases, how to handle clients requests with kindness and certainty and how to respectfully decline a project and still have the rejected client send you referrals.

Learning objectives

• Easy web design for managing jobs
• Making the most of an at home shop
• Keeping the best jobs

2 - 3pm CST

Free for Members
$39 for Non-Members

The Marine Fabric Industry is quickly converting to mostly digital processes and now industry specific software is available to dramatically speed up the development of accurate 3D models and the associated 2D fabric patterns required to manufacture those projects. This presentation will demonstrate software tools for:

1. Optimizing digitally captured shapes of boats and their accessories
2. Easily build 3D computer models of the project for client visualization and approval before any fabric is even cut
3. Efficiently convert those same 3D models into accurate, flat patterns ready for cutting and production

All this can now be completed in only minutes, yet it results in covers, enclosures, bimini tops and upholstery that that are easier and faster to manufacture and fit perfectly. With less time required for production and no need for test-fits & alterations, greater profits are easily achieved.

1 - 2 pm CST

Free for Members
$39 for Non-Members

What is Industry 4.0? What will be the impact of the Pandemic on this conversation? What will success look like in the current industrial revolution? The manufacturing industry was already facing digital disruption. Shifting economic alignments, changing customer expectations, and new technology are forcing the industry to examine old assumptions and to transform processes. Gone are the days of consistent human oversight of mechanical manufacturing processes. Instead, traditional managers and supervisors are being supplanted by an army of robots and tech-enabled soldiers. Technological advancements are firmly entrenched and growing in power due to support of a tech-savvy workforce. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here, creating both opportunities and challenges. Attendees will be challenged to think differently and build strategies to address:

1. growing demands to increase efficiency
2. increasing global competition
3. multi-generational workforces
4. critical demands for cyber security