JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #86 - January/February 2014 - 41

removed, heightening the frequency and
potential negative effect of change.
By contrast, well-implemented risk
management processes aid the prediction
of events that could disrupt supply, and
encourage proactive rather than reactive
strategies. Of course, when a change must
occur, an effective change management
system is needed for the event to progress
as smoothly as possible, creating few or no
supply disruptions.
A specialty components partner with a
trusted change management system also
adds the security of reduced process malfunctions along the value chain. Incorporating all the functions within one organisation, that is manufacturing, logistics and
commercial activities, will optimise such a
system. To add another level of effectiveness, it should also include customers and
suppliers. Only with a disciplined process
can the frequency and likelihood of change
be reduced as well as the potential effect of
the change.
Furthermore, process safety management
and environmental health & safety systems
must be in place and the proper resources
used to maintain them. In addition to
potentially harming people, process safety
incidents may cause significant delays in
production which could lead to loss of
revenue along the value chain. According
to the National Safety Council in the US,
for every $10,000 of direct costs due to
an injury, on average a company will need
to earn in the range of $200-300,000 in
revenue to compensate the loss.

Providing focus

Manage change: Advanced chemistries raising performance

The commodity
wilderness
As a specialty components provider,
Huntsman looks
at the commodity wilderness and
often finds general
specifications and
fluctuations in
quality. Change
Provide focus: Advanced chemistries raising performance
management
programmes mainly
cover safety without acknowledging needs
New molecules are also key but do
that fall further along the value chain.
not come from lab only!
Some suppliers are also generally reluctant
Turning to the question of innovation
to create specialty or unique materials.
and the role of advanced chemistries in
Also, innovation resources are commonly
increasing performance, it is fair to say that
allocated to areas resulting in very large
Huntsman has been prolific as a leading
commercial volumes.
specialty components partner with a
heritage that goes back to the 1930-1940's
The prepregger civilisation
when, trading as CIBA, the company
started working on the first early-stage
When discussing specifications with a
epoxies.
technical specialist, the conversation is
Huntsman has accelerated the developoften filled with acronyms such as HPLC,
ment of specialty epoxy systems through
SQC, SPC, and K1c. They can talk for
its technical expertise but also by placing
minutes without using actual words and
huge emphasis on large-scale production
discussion tends to focus on statistics
capability, on quality and quality consisrather than ranges. This is especially true
tency, on worldwide availability and risks
for those in the aerospace market.
mitigation.
When Huntsman consults with these
kinds of customers, sensitivity to changes
At a glance, some key milestones in
that could affect quality and processing
epoxies and other high-performance thertime, potentially costing money or even
mosets for CIBA/Huntsman include:
breaching a market qualification, are
frequently discussed. Change management - Mid 1940's: Commercialisation of the
systems requiring obligations along the
first bisphenol A epoxies with higher
value chain, which need maintenance and
mechanical performance than polyester
resources, are also discussed.
and phenolics.
No86 January - February 2014 /

Feature Prepreg

Specialty components partners act as the
barrier between the "wilderness" of the
mass commodity world and the "civilized"
performance and specification-driven
world of prepregs, therefore selecting the
correct specialty components partner with
the required processes and resources is
essential to success in innovation.
Specialty components partners bring focus
to the "wilderness" of the commodity
world by being translators and modifiers,
filters, and selective teachers. The role of
focus is essential to security, stability and
consistency of supply and quality as well as

the delivery of solutions. To continue
the building analogy,
it is the difference
between a mud hut
in the wilderness
and a brick house
in civilisation. They
both provide shelter,
but one offers much
more worth to the
value chain than the
other.

jec composites magazine 41

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #86 - January/February 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #86 - January/February 2014