Welcome to the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework
Helping SMEs compete and grow
The aerospace, defence, security and space sectors are vital to the UK’s economy. These industries are buoyant, with strong demand and innovation at their core – but operate in a fiercely competitive global market.
Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework led by trade association ADS, empowers businesses by providing the support, resources and tools needed to continually improve, driving sustained growth and success for your business.
What is Supply Chain Solutions?
The UK has always taken a collaborative approach to supplier development, with industry and government helping businesses across the supply chain to grow, improve and succeed. ADS is proud to act as a convener, working with organisations, partners and supporting bodies to deepen relationships and deliver leadership to secure the UK’s advantage.
That’s why we developed the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework, bringing together established improvement tools and innovation-focused resources like SC21 and NATEP that we have been delivering for many years, and creating a further range of highly valued activities to help you improve in key areas such as competitive performance, sustainability, ESG and digitalisation.
SCS – a flexible toolkit
SCS is an open framework designed to offer a range of tools that support suppliers. Competitiveness, ESG and Digital are the three main support pillars with diagnostic tools and pathways developed to support your transformative journey.
ADS’ position is agnostic – providing links to other websites with relevant resources to support you.
The Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework is a set of services to help businesses improve their supply chain resilience, to boost competitiveness and scale with confidence.
It offers a continuous cycle of improvement through a supportive and connected community. We engage with government, OEMs, Primes and Regional Associations, as well as international partners, to deliver activities for the benefit of the UK supply chain.
Behind the scenes is a dedicated team within ADS committed to supporting you throughout your transformation.
We are here to help.
Harriet Wollerton,
ADS Services Director
Pillars, pathways and programmes
When we launched SCS at Farnborough 2022, it was built on the heritage of SC21, an award-winning and established improvement programme. Since then the Framework has evolved to incorporate a broader range of activities and support.
SC21 now sits within our Competitiveness Pillar alongside the new Aero Excellence programme.
In addition, to help navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance and improve resilience, we have developed an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pillar and Digital Pillar; each with its own maturity pathway and self-assessment tool.
ADS – securing UK advantage
ADS is the UK’s trade association for aerospace, defence, security and space. Our mission is to advance national prosperity, competitiveness and clean, secure growth.
We are proud to deliver SCS through a partnership delivery model. By helping to raise supply chain performance in quality, delivery, sustainability and responsiveness our sectors can exceed customer expectations and lead growth internationally.
Recognised by customers
The Supply Chain Solutions Framework has support from 14 major customers: Airbus, Babcock, BAE Systems, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, GE Aerospace, GKN, Leonardo, MBDA, Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce, Spirit Aerosystems, Safran and Thales.
They, together with additional supplier representatives from the aerospace and defence community, form an SCS Board and working groups to govern the programme.
Joining an SCS community
Advocacy and collaboration are essential to a thriving, resilient supply chain – and, as well as leading customers, we welcome and celebrate the diverse community that powers the Supply Chain Solutions Framework.
From the participants who commit to the programme to the practitioners and providers who support change by providing their expertise, we love hearing how companies are benefitting from the SCS Framework.
