Over ten years of ISO & AQAP methodology

An honest answer in ten minutes: How ready is your company for the defence market?

A structured assessment of your readiness for defence supply chains. Based on the real requirements of Prime Contractor procurement. Free, confidential, substantive.

// You receive Maturity score, your three biggest qualification gaps, realistic timeline and an initial investment estimate.
// Duration Approximately 10 minutes. No account, no commitment. Results immediately.
// For whom Manufacturing and technology-oriented companies considering entry into defence supply chains.
Question 1 of 14 ~10 MIN.

// Question 1 / 14

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// Your three biggest qualification gaps

    Book consultation → Whitepaper: Strategic Market Entry Defence →

    // Brandt context

    SMEs ARE BECOMING THE KEY RESOURCE FOR EUROPEAN DEFENCE CAPABILITY.

    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.

    20x
    Munitions production by 2027 (Rheinmetall)
    100 Mrd
    Euro special defence fund (Bundestag resolution 2022)
    3,5%
    GDP share defence by 2029 projected
    Stephan Michelfeit, Geschäftsführer Michelfeit Consulting // GESCHÄFTSFÜHRER

    // Who guides you

    Qualifications that hold up in the Prime Contractor audit.

    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.

    ISO 9001ISO 27001EN 9100AQAPAudit perspective

    Stephan Michelfeit · Managing Director Michelfeit Consulting

    // The way

    Six phases from first assessment to sustained delivery capability.

    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.

    01

    Initial qualification

    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.

    02

    Market entry strategy

    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.

    03

    Readiness Assessment

    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.

    04

    Implementation

    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.

    05

    Audit and certification

    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.

    06

    Compliance Operations

    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

    What SMEs want to know before entry.

    The typical questions before a programme decision. Detailed answers follow in a personal conversation.

    How long does the path to defence delivery capability realistically take?+

    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.

    What does the programme cost and how is it billed?+

    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.

    What if we have no ISO certifications yet?+

    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.

    How does this differ from a classic ISO consultancy?+

    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.

    Which industries typically fit the programme?+

    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.

    What happens after the self-assessment?+

    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

    AN HONEST ANSWER IN TEN MINUTES.

    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.

    Start check → Speak directly