FAQs

Express your interest!

The following are responses to frequently asked questions from prospective SC21 participants in the UK aerospace and defence industry:

WHAT IS SC21?

Supply Chains for the 21st Century (SC21) is an improvement programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the Aerospace and Defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains. For more details about the programme, please click here.

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER COMMITTING TO SC21 PRINCIPLES?

An increasing number of your customers, suppliers or competitors are committing to SC21. It is therefore important that you understand this programme and consider whether your business should participate in order to maintain its competitive position and to understand how others in your industry will be changing in the future. To understand what are the SC21 Commitments, please click here.

WHAT ARE MY BENEFITS IF I COMMIT?

All the benefits of participating to the SC21 programme are listed here.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE?

It costs nothing to subscribe to SC21. However, if the Senior Management of your business genuinely commits to driving the principles of SC21 forward, there will be some costs incurred by your resources along the improvement journey. These should easily be outweighed by the improvements achieved, both in cost, efficiency and relationships that will be generated within your company and its supply chain.

IF MY COMPANY CHOOSES TO SIGN UP, WHAT WILL THE SC21 SIGNATORY COMPANIES EXPECT OF ME AND HOW WILL I NEED TO DEMONSTRATE MY COMPANY HAS SATISFIED THESE EXPECTATIONS?

First of all, it is expected you to actively participate to the programme, going through the whole process and submitting for a “Performance Standard” recognition. Also, as a participant to SC21 you will invited to the ADS “Achieving Supply Chain Excellence” event. The ASCE event meets regularly to review progress in the implementation of SC21. It ensures resources are focused upon developing and implementing realistic ways of improving how our industry supply chains do business. It is expected from you to join the event at least once a year, as it will give you the opportunity to network with your customers.

WILL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SUB-TIER COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAMME?

Some larger companies have committed in the national action plan to providing help in training sub-tier companies.

IS SC21 A PROGRAMME FOR BOTH MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPANIES? IS THE SIZE OF THE COMPANY IMPORTANT TO BECOME AN SC21 PARTICIPANT?

SC21 is not only a programme for manufacturing companies. A number of service companies successfully achieved the Gold performance in the past. Companies of all sizes can be part of the programme, also very small as the continuous improvement can be always pursued.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF I SIMPLY IGNORE SC21?

The total number of companies committed to SC21 is constantly rising. The more companies that join, the greater the benefit. There is some risk that over time those businesses that have not embraced SC21 and developed their businesses along these lines will become less attractive as key suppliers.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SC21 ON AN INFORMAL BASIS?

You can contact the SC21 Project Office via the web and request further information and a briefing.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I WISH TO SIGN UP TO SC21?

To sign up to the programme click here.

WHAT AUTHORITY/FORMALITY DO I NEED TO FULFIL TO SUBSCRIBE?

It is important that companies signing up to are fully committed to implementing the SC21 principles and processes. Participant companies have to sign up at CEO/MD level.

CAN I PUBLICISE MY COMMITMENT TO SC21 ONCE I HAVE SUBSCRIBED?

Yes! Publicity is key to SC21 achieving the critical mass through its implementation to succeed. Participants are welcome and encouraged to publicise their involvement and commitment to SC21. Use the hashtag #SC21 and @ADS SC21 on LinkedIn to promote yourself.

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