Icon Polymer has joined a national aerospace and defence supply chain improvement programme. The programme is called Supply Chains for the Twenty First Century - or SC21 - and brings together companies in the aerospace and defence sector to improve the supply chain in the industry. Among the 380 members is the UK Ministry of Defence.

 

Achieving supply chain improvement is critical to the continued competitiveness of the UK aerospace and defence industry and SC21 aims to accelerate the process.  With international competition increasing, the participation of companies of all sizes throughout the UK supply chain is crucial to delivering real results from this modernisation programme.

 

SC21 companies have signed up to a formal recognition process that reflects the contribution and commitment of their supply chain. Through participating in SC21 businesses also understand how the industry will be changing in the future and will be aware of the latest developments in the sector - key competitive advantages to them.

 

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed up to SC21 at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.

 

Icon’s Group Operations Director Mick Tolliday said: “Signing up to SC21 was a very straightforward decision for us. Not only does it help us to streamline our operating procedures and discuss best practice with other, similar, businesses but it also allows us to access potential new customers. Being joined in the programme by the Ministry of Defence, which has encouraged one of our key customers to get involved in our programme, shows just how significant the project is and this will help us still further to provide the best service possible to our customers as well as cut down on unnecessary costs.

 

“We see SC21 as key to our continued growth within the aerospace and defence industries as it closely matches the continuous improvement culture within our own business.”