SQA Services Returns to ASQ Space & Defense Industries Forum with Lifecycle Quality Workshop
SQA Services is proud to return as an exhibitor at the ASQ Collaboration on Quality in the Space & Defense Industries Forum, taking place March 10–11 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The annual event brings together aerospace and defense leaders, quality professionals, and industry innovators to address the evolving challenges shaping mission-critical manufacturing and supply chains.
This year, SQA’s participation extends beyond the exhibit floor. On Day 2 of the forum, SQA President & CEO Michael Guymon will lead a featured workshop exploring how aerospace organizations can rethink engineering quality execution across the entire product lifecycle.
Engineering Quality Across the Aerospace Lifecycle
The workshop, Engineering Quality Across the Aerospace Lifecycle, will take place March 11 from 2:30 – 4:45 PM and addresses a growing reality facing aerospace and defense programs: despite mature standards, strong regulatory oversight, and decades of operational experience, organizations continue to struggle with extended certification timelines, recurring quality escapes, and supplier instability.
Rather than viewing these challenges as isolated failures, the session examines how they often stem from structural limitations in traditional inspection-centric quality models — approaches that intervene too late in the product lifecycle to prevent disruption.
The workshop introduces a lifecycle-based quality paradigm in which anticipation replaces reaction. By embedding quality intent directly into engineering definitions, work instructions, inspection logic, and execution processes, organizations can create a continuous and traceable connection between design intent and physical outcome.
A key focus of the session is the emergence of hybrid artificial intelligence technologies that combine deterministic, auditable reasoning with statistical learning. These tools enable structured knowledge models built from engineering data, standards, and operational experience — dynamically generating execution and inspection plans, adapting rigor based on evolving risk, and preserving institutional knowledge across programs.
Importantly, the approach emphasizes augmentation rather than replacement: advanced technologies expand the judgment, consistency, and reach of quality professionals while strengthening collaboration across engineering, suppliers, production, and sustainment.
By integrating execution, inspection, and learning into a unified lifecycle framework, aerospace organizations can reduce late rework, stabilize suppliers earlier, and support more predictable certification outcomes — a critical advantage in today’s complex and resource-constrained environment.
Industry Leaders Guiding the Engineering Quality Discussion
Michael Guymon will be joined by distinguished aerospace and technology leaders Jason Anderson and Thibauld Jongen, bringing complementary perspectives from across manufacturing, innovation, and executive leadership.
Michael Guymon, President & CEO of SQA Services, leads the company’s global supplier quality and risk-management initiatives. Since joining SQA in 2022, he has advanced a data- and technology-driven approach to proactive supply chain assurance. Prior to SQA, Michael held leadership roles supporting advanced manufacturing programs at SpaceX, Rocket Lab USA, and Heliogen, contributing to some of the industry’s most demanding production environments. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University and brings a strong foundation in lean principles and continuous improvement.
As Director of Solutions Engineering at SQA Services, Jason Anderson designs and leads technical quality programs that help manufacturers meet demanding production, regulatory, and supply-chain performance requirements. He has led major initiatives including supplier recovery efforts, RCCA remediation, and large-scale source inspection programs for defense aerospace clients. Jason currently leads SQA’s Standard Source Inspection initiative, developing scalable inspection frameworks to strengthen oversight across complex aerospace supply chains.
Thibauld Jongen, CEO and Finance leader at Common Sense Robotics, brings expertise at the intersection of engineering, artificial intelligence, and business transformation. Known for guiding organizations toward measurable success through technology innovation, he has led the evolution of advanced robotics platforms that automate complex manufacturing and operational workflows. His background spans engineering research, executive leadership, and applied AI innovation.
Meet the SQA Team at ASQ-CQSDI
At our booth, we’ll be discussing practical approaches to improving supplier readiness, scaling quality oversight across global supply chains, and implementing lifecycle-based quality strategies that help programs move from reactive firefighting toward proactive execution. Whether you are addressing engineering quality, supplier performance challenges, or production ramp-up risks, our team looks forward to continuing the conversation in person.
