KLOEPFEL BY EPSA
Your strategic partner for purchasing & supply chain in the defense industry
For companies that need to ensure their operational efficiency despite a shortage of skilled workers, supply bottlenecks and investment uncertainty.
Production capacity bottlenecks, a broken industrial base and sharply rising costs are putting companies under massive pressure. Production is running at the limit, new systems take up to 24 months, suppliers are unable to scale - and all this with increasing BAAINBw requirements. At the same time, costs are exploding, projects are becoming 30-50% more expensive and delivery times are being delayed by years, often without any consequences for suppliers.
Uncertain demand planning and a lack of investment security are exacerbating the situation. Annual budget debates, stop-and-go procurement and the lack of long-term orders are preventing companies from investing in urgently needed capacities.
In addition, there is an acute shortage of specialists along the entire value chain: around 40% of employees are over 50 years old, there is a shortage of engineers and experienced buyers with defense compliance expertise are hardly available.
Companies that want to remain deliverable, plannable and resilient today need more than selective measures - they need a structural, holistic reboot of their supply chain.
Your production is at a standstill, the supply contracts are breaking down, the skilled workers are missing?
KLOEPFEL by EPSA brings you back into operational capability.
We will get in touch with you within 24 hours!
Purchasing & Supply Chain: tailor-made strategies for the defense industry
complex industry purchases
also in NATO partner countries
for our customers
>17 years of experience in industrial purchasing
For more than 17 years, we have been optimizing complex industrial purchases, including demanding metalworking suppliers. This deep understanding of the industry makes us a reliable partner for sustainable results.
Defense-related expertise
We already advise suppliers to the defense industry, high-tech companies and the mechanical engineering sector. We understand ITAR/EAR, BAAINBw processes and the logic of long-term contracts.
Pan-European network for critical parts
Through the EPSA GROUP, we have access to an international network of around 5,000 procurement experts - including specialists in politically "friendly" countries. This enables us to develop alternative procurement strategies, for example by nearshoring critical components, to make your supply chains more resilient and independent.
Doer culture instead of consultant theory
We do not talk. We implement. Our interim managers act as "temporary colleagues" directly in your teams, assume responsibility, negotiate independently and implement measures without delay. In doing so, they provide noticeable relief for your organization and ensure rapid, measurable progress.
We turn your purchasing & supply chain into a strategic weapon
Purchasing and supply chain management
in the defense industry
We have extensive expertise in optimizing procurement and supply chains for companies in the defence sector and offer a wide range of specialist solutions. We can also develop tailor-made strategies for your company that precisely match your challenges.
- Sustainable reduction of all direct material costs: We identify potential savings along the entire value chain and implement measures that have a lasting effect.
- Increase material and process efficiency: We check rejects and waste, standardize products and thus reduce the variety of articles and suppliers.
- Optimize supplier conditions: We analyze price structures, discounts and volume agreements and implement measures to reduce direct material costs.
- Focus: During the analysis, we focus on components, semi-finished products and drawing parts in order to specifically identify potential savings.
- Cost optimization: We realize direct savings, develop product group strategies, bundle purchasing volumes and manage suppliers and risks.
- Digitalization: We digitalize your procurement processes, use modern eProcurement tools, check internal approval processes and use existing framework contract conditions.
- Classic purchasing levers: We conduct direct negotiations with suppliers, bundle requirements, create market analyses, structured tenders and implement global sourcing.
- Focus: During the analysis, we focus on systems, tools, services and IT in order to specifically identify potential savings.
- Logistics optimization: Through a comprehensive logistics health check, we identify potential for strategic freight cost purchasing, optimize your network and the utilization of your transport capacities and create meaningful carbon footprint reporting.
- Logistics management: We design your logistics processes individually and check how our solutions can be seamlessly integrated into your existing organizational structure. At the same time, we analyze your global transport flows in order to efficiently optimize freight expenses.
- Customs and foreign trade: We audit your customs and foreign trade processes, check the correct classification of your goods, analyze import procedures and the handling of deliveries and ensure the proper documentation of export and transfer certificates.
- Intralogistics: We carry out a comprehensive health check of your intralogistics, analyze existing warehouse concepts and optimize your processes. We support you in the selection of optimal packaging and system solutions, create transparency regarding processes and key figures and provide a clear dashboard for continuous monitoring.
- Focus: In the analysis, we focus on transportation, storage and handling.
- 100% focus: Our executive search experts know the specific challenges of your industry and specialize in filling positions in purchasing, supply chain and logistics.
- 50,000 suppliers : We have 50,000 suppliers in our network. We offer you access to a first-class network of specialists.
- 10,000 experts in the database: With our exclusive database of over 10,000 qualified specialists and managers, we identify the right talent for your company.
- > 50 % response rates: High success rate for direct approaches: Thanks to the strong KLOEPFEL brand, we generally achieve response rates of over 50%.
- Competitive awards: We use game theory to scientifically improve negotiation outcomes and develop an award design tailored to your situation to maximize savings. At the same time, we take into account the total cost of ownership perspective and examine the competitive situation - both for tenders and for existing business with multisourcing and suitable competition clauses.
- Bilateral negotiations: We combine scientific findings from behavioral economics, classical negotiation theory and game theory, develop tailor-made strategies and provide support in unlocking new levers. As a shadow negotiator or lead negotiator, we ensure the best possible results for your company.
- Accelerated negotiations: We conduct successful negotiations under time pressure and manage a large number of negotiations to maximize short-term savings. We provide live reporting on status and savings achieved for precise management.
- Focus: In the area of negotiations, we focus on contracts, BAAINBw and suppliers.
- Strategic supplier selection: We check suppliers according to quality, costs, capacity and innovation potential in order to create the best possible basis for your procurement.
- Optimization of procurement volumes and processes: Relevant key figures make performance measurable, reveal optimization potential and enable targeted management.
- Technical sourcing: Technical sourcing is a special service. Customized approaches to technical sourcing ensure cost transparency, manage supplier risks and increase quality and efficiency in purchasing.
- Strategy & network design: We review your supply chain strategy and analyze the entire network design. We optimize your supply chains, from location planning and transport routes to the selection of suitable suppliers.
- Operational planning & inventory control:We check your S&OP and capacity planning, analyze master data and optimize your inventory management.
- Operational excellence: Through targeted improvement measures, we increase efficiency, quality and process stability along the entire value chain.
- Resilience & stability: of the supply chain We identify risks, strengthen critical interfaces and create robust structures for a permanently reliable supply We achieve +30% delivery reliability and delivery reliability.
Your experts for purchasing & supply chain in the field of distribution
KLOEPFEL by EPSA - consulting is part of the international EPSA Group, one of the leading purchasing and supply chain consultancies in Europe with over 3,500 experts.
We support over 16,000 customers worldwide, many of them with demanding security and compliance requirements. With more than 2,000 completed optimization projects, including over 400 in mechanical engineering-related industries, our team has the experience and expertise to provide you with targeted support.
"We have been optimizing complex industrial purchases for more than 17 years, including demanding metalworking suppliers. We know the challenges of the defense industry inside out. Let's talk and uncover possible levers for your purchasing and supply chain."
Our solutions for your challenges in the defense industry
Production capacity bottlenecks & broken industrial base
KLOEPFEL solution:
- S&OP/Lean Manufacturing: Supply security, capacity planning & bottleneck management for defense supply chains
- Direct cost optimization: accelerated procurement of production equipment, negotiations with machine manufacturers
- Executive search: recruitment of production managers, production managers with security clearance
- Sourcing: Establishing alternative suppliers for critical components (dual sourcing strategies)
Uncertain demand planning & lack of investment security
KLOEPFEL solution:
- S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning): Flexible planning scenarios for changing BAAINBw volumes
- Supply chain management: working with the supplier on its ability to deliver, initiating OpEx measures, implementing a long-term stability plan
- Negotiations: Framework agreements with options instead of fixed quantities - negotiated with BAAINBw & suppliers
Cost explosion & deadline delay
KLOEPFEL solution:
- Direct cost optimization: Strategic sourcing of components, drawing parts and semi-finished products
- Indirect cost optimization: Reduction of overheads in indirect material groups
(spare parts, tools, IT) - Negotiations: Performance-based contracts with penalties for delays, bonus for adherence to deadlines
- Sourcing: Benchmarking via EPSA alliance (5,000 experts in 40 countries) for better conditions
Shortage of skilled workers throughout the value creation network
KLOEPFEL solution:
- Executive Search: Direct search for purchasing managers, supply chain managers, compliance officers with security clearance
- Recruitment: Interim manager for defense projects (ITAR/EAR knowledge, BAAINBw experience)
- Talent pool: access to 5,000 EPSA experts - even for short-term engagements
Transform purchasing & supply chain efficiently and sustainably.