Kristin Talmaj has been appointed as Vice President of Large-Scale Manufacturing at Pacific Marine & Supply (PMS). This appointment is aimed at leading efforts to develop a new large-scale manufacturing facility. In this new role, Talmaj will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of this facility.
Developing Manufacturing Infrastructure in a Critical Time
Steven Louis, Chairman of the Board of Pacific Marine, referred to Talmaj as someone with a rare combination of deep technical expertise and a proven track record in scaling infrastructure businesses. He stated that Talmaj's experience in building and consulting for growing businesses in the defense and industrial sectors provides the necessary leadership to advance advanced manufacturing initiatives from prototyping to production.
Talmaj's appointment will enhance PMS's manufacturing capabilities at a critical time. The United States is currently more than 200 to 1 behind China in shipbuilding capacity, making the rapid growth of the country's maritime industrial infrastructure a vital national security issue. At the same time, PMS companies like PacMar Technologies and Pacific Shipyards International are leading in the development of unmanned surface and underwater vehicles (USVs/UUVs) and maintaining the U.S. Pacific fleet.
New Facilities and Job Creation in Hawaii
The remote location of Hawaii in the Pacific and the high concentration of U.S. armed forces have created a need for a large-scale manufacturing facility to serve defense and commercial customers. Military officials and local business leaders recognize that Hawaii is at the end of a long supply chain, which has increased costs and led to long delays in production. For this reason, conventional high-volume production lines are not economically viable in these islands.
As a result, PMS is looking to leverage flexible platforms and software-based robotics to drive its future production. The new facilities will attract significant investment to the local economy and create skilled jobs in the region. Students and the local workforce in Hawaii are currently being trained in the necessary skills to compete nationally for these jobs, and PMS is looking to create a pathway for them to find quality employment and remain in the local community after graduation.
Talmaj stated, "The vision of creating a regional center in the Pacific for large-scale advanced manufacturing immediately drew me to Pacific Marine. Software-based manufacturing presents an incredible opportunity to address national security concerns while rapidly advancing Hawaii's technology economy and improving the livelihoods of many local entrepreneurs. This is an exciting time for construction in Hawaii."
The initial customer base for this facility includes the U.S. Department of Defense, the maritime industry, commercial/recreational boat building, and construction. Additionally, the company is looking to enter industries that currently have limited manufacturing presence in Hawaii, which may include energy applications, automotive parts, and replacement components for heavy machinery and equipment. As PMS expands its capabilities in the coming months, the company invites potential partners and customers seeking faster product delivery in the Pacific to reach out to them.
