A structured assessment of your readiness for defence supply chains. Based on the real requirements of Prime Contractor procurement. Free, confidential, substantive.
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// Report opening
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Open Report ↗// Brandt context
Defence supply chains are growing at a pace not seen since the Cold War. Rheinmetall is scaling munitions production twentyfold by 2027. KNDS is taking over a Mercedes site for the Boxer contract. The prime contractors are actively seeking SME suppliers. Those who are qualified now are set.
For German SMEs this opens a market of a scale not seen for decades. One hundred billion euros in procurement is looking for suppliers who can deliver. Not large corporations. SMEs with precise manufacturing, clean documentation and robust processes. The entry ticket is not size. It is qualification.
Most SMEs underestimate the distance between their current position and actual delivery capability. The check makes it visible.
// GESCHÄFTSFÜHRER
// Who guides you
Stephan Michelfeit spent over ten years in quality and process organisations, including at SAP and Toyota. There he learned what makes management systems genuinely robust from the ground up. Since 2019 he has brought that knowledge to highly regulated markets: pharmaceuticals, medical technology, insurance and defence.
He sees compliance not as bureaucracy but as evidence that a business can deliver when it matters. In a defence mandate he led the implementation of an ISO 9001 system across all German sites and successfully completed the external audit. The AQAP introduction at this client is currently underway.
The Defence Readiness Programme is built on the standards that appear in the requirements of the defence industry. ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 as the foundation, EN 9100 and AQAP for the specific requirements of the sector. Mandates are managed with dedicated contacts, from the first workshop to the certification audit.
Stephan Michelfeit · Managing Director Michelfeit Consulting
// The way
Not an off-the-shelf package, but a structured path. The very first phase gives you a clear yes or no before significant effort is invested.
Can your company make this journey at all? We assess structural prerequisites: ownership structure, management commitment, minimum size and core capability. Result: a clear yes or no before investment. Only if a viable business case is fundamentally possible do we proceed.
What does your company deliver, which Prime Contractors are looking for exactly that, how does outreach work? Result: concrete target Prime Contractors, a positioning of your offering and a roadmap for market approach.
Gap analysis between the requirements of your target Prime Contractors and standards against your existing organisation. Result: a prioritised action plan with investment estimates per building block.
ISO 9001 as the foundation, plus ISO 27001, BSI baseline protection, EN 9100 and AQAP depending on the action plan. Implemented together with the responsible people in your company, not around them.
Preparation for and accompaniment through the external audit at an accredited certification body. Result: a robust certificate that holds up in the Prime Contractor supplier audit.
Ongoing operational support after certification: surveillance audits, standard updates, new Prime Contractor requirements. A certificate must not only be earned but maintained.
Der Defence-Readiness-Check zeigt, wie Sie aktuell aufgestellt sind mit Blick auf einen Defence-Einstieg. It is the starting point for a well-founded initial consultation, without commitment.
Start check →// Frequently asked questions
The typical questions before a programme decision. Detailed answers follow in a personal conversation.
The initial qualification takes four to six weeks and gives you a robust timeline for your specific situation. The qualification itself takes between eight and eighteen months depending on the gap profile. We provide this assessment only after the initial qualification, not before.
The initial qualification is billed as a standalone service package. After that you decide whether to proceed with the full qualification. The programme is modular, not an all-inclusive package. You receive the investment estimate as part of the initial qualification.
That is not a disqualifier — it is the normal case. The initial qualification shows you exactly where you stand today and what a structured build-up means for your company. ISO 9001 is the foundation we build together.
Classic certification projects end with the certificate. Our programme ends with actual connectivity to a supply chain. That means: Prime Contractor audit perspective from the start, the right combination of standards for your target market and support through to listing with a Prime Contractor.
Metal processing companies, electronics and electrical engineering firms, mechanical engineering companies, design offices and IT-adjacent system integrators. What matters is not the industry but the manufacturing depth and level of documentation.
You receive your assessment immediately with the three biggest qualification gaps and a realistic timeline. If you want to go deeper, book a free initial consultation. There we discuss your specific situation and whether the Defence Readiness Programme makes sense for your company.
// Your next step
The Defence Readiness Check shows you where your company stands, which three gaps are most urgent and what timeline is realistic. Free and without commitment.