Competitiveness in supply chains is paramount for modern businesses to succeed. Collaboration with partners, efficient logistics and talent retention are vital to sustaining competitiveness in our complex sectors.
A competitive supply chain allows for flexibility, risk mitigation and global expansion. By reducing lead times, enhancing communication and improving market responsiveness, it enables companies to seize opportunities – securing contracts, driving technological advancements and maintaining global leadership.
SMEs play a vital role in supply chains contributing significantly to their overall competitiveness. The entrepreneurial spirit and agility of our members helps drive innovation and diversity of products with specialised knowledge catering to the unique demands of our sectors.
Supply Chains for the 21st Century (SC21) helps aerospace and defence businesses accelerate their competitiveness by raising their performance in order to gain more value in the eyes of the customers. Built on 17 years of success, it is a best in class improvement programme for the aerospace and defence sectors and optimises the customer-supplier relationship for mutual benefit and in the best interests of the UK’s national prosperity.
Participants travel through the programme by:
Improving competitiveness through operational excellence
Want to know how you compare against the competition?
Our new Baseline Assessment Tool (BAT) can help you assess your performance and understand where improvement is needed as a starting point to your continuous improvement journey.
Created by Valuechain Technology Limited and designed by industry supply chain experts from the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors, together with input from national and regional partners, this free to use Baseline Assessment Tool (BAT) will provide an initial holistic report of your benchmark, recommendations on how and where you can improve your business and where to find help to improve your competitive performance.
The BAT can be used by either as a self-assessment by businesses or in conjunction with one of the qualified SC21 Practitioners.
Our aims are to expand this unique workforce capability and national advantage by delivering sector investment and knowledge to the frontiers of advanced manufacturing.
Written by Emma Evans, Defence Policy Advisor What is the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG)? The NIAG was established in 1968 as […]
Read moreAircraft orders in May 2024 are 79% below May 2023 figures Delivery rates are 14% down in 2024, compared with 2023, due […]
Read moreToday we launch the UK Defence Sector Outlook 2024 offering our annual guide to the sector. This report sets out the continued […]
Read moreToday we launch the UK Aerospace Outlook 2024 offering our annual guide to the sector. The UK Aerospace Sector is at the […]
Read more2024 Facts and Figures report from ADS Group highlights that aerospace, defence security and space added £38.2bn to the UK economy […]
Read moreAward recognises programme’s role in transforming quality for SMEs working in the aerospace and defence supply chains. SC21 programme strengthens UK […]
Read moreAs our sectors continue to evolve and adapt to an ever changing landscape, our sector teams and membership colleagues actively engage with […]
Read moreWorkforce shortages remain a significant challenge for our sectors and apprenticeships can contribute a vital source of talent. Apprentices are highly motivated […]
Read moreWelcome to ADS’ monthly SME spotlight. We have combined our June and July spotlight to showcase even more of our member’s fantastic […]
Read moreYear-to-date UK commercial aircraft deliveries down 7.4% on 2023 as issues along the supply chain dampen an otherwise strong outlook Commercial aircraft […]
Read moreWritten by Prenavin Mudaly, Industry Secondee Enhancing the UK Regulatory Landscape to Foster Innovation, Investment and Growth The UK Government recently published […]
Read moreMental Health Awareness Week 2024 This week is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to come together to focus on […]
Read moreWritten by Prenavin Mudaly, Industry Secondee The UK Government recently outlined its new defence posture and strategy, making a commitment to steadily […]
Read moreOn Wednesday 1 May the Directorate of Defence Trade Controls (DDTC) at the US Department of State published, at the start of a […]
Read moreOver 300 aircraft placed on order in Q1 of 2024 is a 9% improvement on 2023 figures Impact of capacity challenges and […]
Read more