Unlocking Innovation in Business Jet Interiors: How RCO Engineering Pivoted from Automotive to Aerospace w/ Jeff Simek

In the highly competitive and specialized world of business jet interiors, standing out with something truly unique is no small feat. The challenge of innovation is compounded by the complex certification processes involved, making it difficult for most companies in this space to create disruptive designs. Interestingly, some of the most significant innovations often come from outside the aviation interior industry. A prime example is RCO Engineering, a company originally focused on automotive interiors. This small auto interior company was selected to build custom seats for Gulfstream, making the bold leap from mass production to a highly customized, bespoke business model for the aviation industry. But what drove Gulfstream to choose RCO Engineering for such a critical task? How did they successfully navigate the shift from cars to jets? And what are the key differences between the automotive and business aviation industries? In this episode of the Aerospace Executive Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Simek, General Manager of RCO Engineering & RCO Aerospace. We dive into the fascinating story of how aerospace came knocking, their business model, and why being a smaller, nimble company positions them for success in the aerospace sector. There’s a lot involved in business jet interiors. There’s a lot of certification at stake and it’s risky to bring things to market so a lot of companies won’t do it. -Jeff Simek Key Takeaways From This Episode Aerospace Innovation: Learn how RCO Engineering’s unique approach to building jet interiors caught the attention of Gulfstream Aerospace and set them apart in a competitive field. The Power of a Small Business in Aerospace: Discover how keeping operations small and focused has helped RCO Aerospace achieve agility and innovation, leading to significant impact in the aviation industry. Pivoting from Automotive to Aerospace: The transition from mass production in the automotive industry to a fully customized, high-end business jet interior model presents unique challenges. Find out how RCO made this shift smoothly and effectively. Guest Bio Jeff Simek is the General Manager of RCO Engineering & RCO Aerospace. He provides passionate leadership, team building, and strategic planning for cost, quality and delivery performance in the Aerospace and Automotive industries. With over 23 years of experience, his first 14 years were spent in the automotive industry where he held the positions of Program Manager, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Greenfield Site Launch Manager and Plant Manager for large Tier 1 suppliers. Following these positions, he was hired as Business Unit Manager for RCO Engineering’s automotive plastics division. After two years with RCO Engineering, he was promoted to General Manager of Operations for RCO Aerospace, a new start-up, offering passenger seating and interior products for large cabin purpose built jets. Jeff is now in charge of both Aerospace and Automotive operations at RCO with a strategy for the 4th industrial revolution. He also serves as a board member for AIAM where he works to ensure Michigan’s Aerospace industry is aligned to local and global opportunities. To find out more, head to https://www.rcoeng.com/aerospace and connect with Jeff on LinkedIn . About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association. For more aerospace industry news & commentary: https://craigpicken.com/insights/ . To learn more about Craig Picken and the NorthStar Group, visit https://craigpicken.com/ . Check out this episode on our website , Apple Podcasts , or Spotify , and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!