www.defencesupplychain.org

It is with interest we see the use of words like trustworthy, transparency and open. The same applies for the IT solutions needed. They have to allow for trust and openness.

Share-A-space is based on the open ISO standards PLCS (STANAG 4661). This enables true collaboration and sharing of vital product data.

Budgets cuts call out for solutions that are flexible and inexpensive. Eurostep has teamed up with Microsoft to deliver this.

Finally, the above is not working without a high level of security. Microsoft has over the 10 last years developed into a vendor that is a leader in trustworthy computing and the Share-A-space solution makes use of the Microsoft leadership.

In fact, Share-A-space will this spring come out in release 7.3 with state of the art security features designed by Microsoft and Eurostep.

We certainly look forward to discuss and network around these topics at the conference.

Håkan Kårdén, CEO Eurostep Group AB

According to you, what is the most crucial matter in regards to defence support strategies today?

The global economic downturn has seriously limited national defence expenditure.  As a consequence, many countries have been forced to implement large-scale cuts to defence spending to contain budget deficits.  Measures implemented, including the retirement of major platforms, the cancelling current procurements and the reduction of personnel numbers also have a significant effect on the support of in-serviced equipment.  Multinational solutions collectively addressing in-service support allow providing cost effective solutions.

What is the most important aspect of coordinating and bridging the armed forces and industry into successful PPP solutions?

PPP solutions call for real cooperation, for accepting and supporting each other in a partnership. PPPs can only be sustained over long periods through a clear definition and common understanding of the deliverables.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming Defence Support Strategies 2012?

As the General Manager of NAMSA I’m always interested in hearing firsthand the new logistic requirements of the nations with a view to reacting quickly by providing state of the art solutions.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, Defence Support Strategies 2012

According to you, what is the most crucial matter in regards to defence support strategies today?
It´s vital to develop a common understanding of the different objectives and to create a trustworthy relation between contractor and supplier. One key factor is to develop a good enough transparency between the parties.

What is the most important aspect of coordinating and bridging the armed forces and industry into successful PPP solutions?
The ongoing downsizing of The Armed Forces, especially personnel, together with an increasing participation in international missions put new and higher demand on availability to our units. An essential part of solving this equation is the contribution from industry to enhance and support the missions in different areas. It´s vital for both parties to have an common understanding of the objectives and the effects if they are not reached.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming Defence Support Strategies 2012?
Networking and sharing information and experiences with other participants. Get new ideas for the future.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, Defence Support Strategies 2012

Jan Lauridsen, an engaged FAD member, gives his two cents on this question. At last years’ business platform for PPP solutions within the defence sector, Jan chaired the annual three days of discussions and debates between armed forces and industry. When asked about his expectations and interests in the upcoming meeting in the spring; Jan shared the importance of clear and well defined objectives, amongst other things. Read the mini interview here.

According to you, what is the most crucial matter in regards to defence support strategies today?
The most crucial matter is to have clear and well defined objectives and targets with well defined success criteria’s and KPIs leading to a common agenda.

What is the most important aspect of coordinating and bridging the armed forces and industry into successful PPP solutions?
An open atmosphere, a clear and coordinated organization with well defined roles and responsibilities and the desire for team-work amongst the key stakeholders.

What are you looking forward to the most at the upcoming Defence Support Strategies 2012?
To get an update on what the different players have achieved and what their specific plans and priorities are for the future – and of course to meet colleagues.

To hear more from Jan,  join us in Copenhagen,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, Defence Support Strategies 2012

Defence Support Strategies 2012 returns to Copenhagen in the spring of 2012!

Building on a very successful and unique launch event in 2011, Defence Support Strategies 2012 represents a high level business platform for key stakeholders within the armed forces and the defence industries throughout Europe. Having succeeded with our goal to form an independent platform for strategic knowledge and experience sharing within defence supply chains, our new goal is set even higher. Our vision is to increase the in-depth learning possibilities, building on the platform with dedicated sessions and tracks on outsourcing, PPP and SCM within defense.

Among the topics that we will focus on this year are:

• • Financial sustainability - partnering solutions that stabilize and reduce the cost for MOD
• • Simplifying the PPP process - efficiently contract with the industry for a lifetime of equipment
• • Practitioner’s Views - problems and possibilities in launching a PPP – creating the win-win partnership
• • Multinational cooperation in supply chain matters – cooperating for common service and supply solutions
• • Crisis management operations – responding to rapid events through a flexible supply chain and reliable delivery

As many, if not most, armed forces across the world are stating their biggest challenge is combining high cost-efficiency and low risk exposure, it is more crucial than ever to strategically plan your supply chains. In order to do so, you need to meet all key stakeholders and discuss possibilities, concerns and your standards for delivery.

We are now inviting to an imitable meeting platform with the purpose of facilitating future outsourcing and partnering within the defence sector. The meeting focuses on defining the stakeholders’ perspectives on defence outsourcing as well as establishing what the different parties concerns are, in order to address them.

The platform will also take a practical approach to PPP and display what a PPP process concretely means for a practitioner of outsourcing and partnering. This will be illustrated by successful outsourcing examples; successful projects achieving complete supply chains with reliable suppliers and sub-suppliers.

Defence Support Strategies 2012 will feature best practice case studies of defence outsourcing from across the continents. Listen in on successful PPP projects that have achieved comprehensive supply chains with dependable suppliers and sub-suppliers.

Do not miss the opportunity to gain invaluable insights at the annual, and only, business platform for Defence Supply Chain Strategies, set in the Nordic region.

I look forward to welcoming you in Copenhagen at 18th – 20th of April.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs, Content Director, Defence Support Strategies 2012

The speakerlist for the meeting in Copenhagen 13-15 April is quickly growing. Our latest key-note speaker is Dr Helen Peck, Senior Lecturer for Cranfield University, based at the UK Defence Academy. She will be focusing on the issue of risk evaluation in the defence supply chain. Dr. Pecks’ session will identifies some of the essential conflicts within supply chain management and how they create tensions in supply chain risk management. It also questions whether some aspects of received wisdom in risk management offer a solution or become part of the problem in the context of defence supply chains. Some of the learning points will be;

• • Value chain vs. supply chain?
• • Who is making the decisions and who is carrying the risk?
• • Why do comprehensive failures occur?

Welcome to Defence Supply Chain Strategies 2011,

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs
Content Director
Defence Supply Chain Strategies 2011

One of key-note speakers during our meeting April 13-15th in Copenhagen, is without doubt Mr. Heikki Härtsiä, Vice President Key Customers at Millog Ltd. Heikki Härtsiä is responsible for the Customer relations and the partnership model towards the Finnish Defence Forces at Millog Ltd. He was a member of the negotiating team in the Strategic Partnership process as well as in establishing Millog Ltd.

Mr. Heikki’s session will focus on changing the defence material support from military to industrial company and does so through the case of Millog.

In 2008Finnish MOD made the decision to go on to public private partnership program in defence material support in Finland and to transfer existing Army depots to Millog Ltd. Millog Ltd has now operated for two years and has fulfilled the goals set up for the transfer and daily operation.

Some of the learning points from Mr. Heikki’s session will be;

• • Factors leading to the PPP decision
• • The process leading to Strategic Partnership
• • Millog Ltd activities and structure
• • Benefits of the Partnership to the Customer

For more specific information on speakers and content, please look through the agenda.

Sincerely,

Josephine Elofs
Content Director
Defence Supply Chain Strategies 2011

• Benefits of efficient partnering – how to build and preserve reliable and efficient partnerships to ensure continuity and capability in a cost-efficient way
• Strategic best practice case studies on outsourcing – methods and leading case-studies on outsourcing procurement and implementation
• Partner evaluation and selection – achieving a complete supply chain with reliable suppliers and sub-suppliers
• Future scenarios on strategic alliances between key stakeholders - strategies to specifically overcome market barriers for defence outsourcing
• Contracts & Agreements for complex commitments and long-term partnering - Measurements & KPI in defence alliances

• Senior level presenters representing the political, industry and buyer perspectives
• Leading and tangible case studies – Pan-European and beyond
• Successful partnership models – Alliance projects and outsourcing agreements
• Interactive features such as roundtable discussions, one-on-one meetings and workshops allowing you to maximize networking possibilities as well as share different objectives with outsourcing