21st century supply chains (SC21) > what is SC21? > SC21 - FAQ's

SC21 is a collaborative programme to transform aerospace and defence supply chains. It is an industry commitment to transform its supply chains to be the Supply Chain for the 21^st Century.

SC21 presents a set of improvement and relationship principles that have been developed and adopted by a rapidly growing number of businesses in the UK Aerospace and Defence sector. It provides a framework for improving the effectiveness of supply chains, and recognises that supply chains form and reform depending on the industry, programme or platform requirements.

Fundamentally, SC21 is designed to transform and accelerate the competitiveness of the UK Aerospace and Defence industry which will help it to sustain and grow. SC21 companies are committed to working together through three key streams to improve efficiency, remove duplication in doing business, and lower overheads and costs.

These are:

• Accreditation: SC21 companies will recognise and accept AS/EN9100 accreditation. This will remove the need for multiple customer audits of suppliers QMS systems (unless mandated by regulatory requirement) delivering resource efficiencies and lowers costs for all parties.
• Development and Performance: SC21 companies are committed to achieving 80% + common supplier development programmes focusing efforts on the key improvement areas rather than responding to multiple customers. Combined with common performance metrics the supply chain will get leaner and more effective delivering win/win results for all.
• Relationships: SC21 companies recognise that sustained success in our industry requires positive relationships in all directions. Using the SC21 relationship code of practice companies can identify the level of relationship needed and objectively focus upon the areas that need improvement.

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.

Your business will keep abreast of the latest developments in your sector, and you could benefit from some specific savings - for example when customer audits are standardised under SC21, resource requirements will be reduced with fewer customer audits in the future.

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.

As a signatory to SC21 you will become a member of the SC21 Task Force. The Task Force 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.

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

The objective of common supplier development programmes is to achieve efficiencies and remove duplication. Business excellence models such as EFQM is an integral element of any development programme.

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.

Further information is available on the SBAC website. You can also contact the SC21 project office via the web and request further information and a briefing.

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

Yes! Publicity is key to SC21 achieving the critical mass through its implementation to succeed. Signatory companies are welcome, and encouraged to publicise their involvement and commitment to SC21.

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