TÜV SÜD recognised for aerospace and defence excellence

Product test and certification specialist TÜV SÜD has become the only dedicated test house to be awarded SC21 Silver status, part of the UK aerospace, defence, security and space industries' programme to achieve supply chain excellence.

SC21 is endorsed by the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and is increasingly being imposed as a requirement for suppliers of large companies as it specifies quality management systems specific to these industries. Jean-Louis Evans, managing director of TÜV SÜD, said: "The UK is the second largest defence and aerospace market in the world, but to retain that status and compete effectively in the global market it is essential that the industry's supply chain is also world class. "We achieved silver by fully embracing lean management principles and refining our own processes. We are now focused on achieving the gold award, which will be extended across the entire company to deliver a consistent level of operational and business excellence to our customers in all industries."