Our A&D customers are focused on three core priorities when choosing a manufacturing partner. First is partnership, which means long-term agreements, stable pricing, and dependable performance in both quality and on-time delivery. Second is security, including strict compliance with cybersecurity standards and export controls. Third is value stream support. That includes everything from new product introduction and development to scalable capacity and responsiveness, along with having the right geographic footprint to meet their needs. These priorities are shaping how we show up as a strategic partner.

In A&D, trust starts with performance, but it’s sustained by transparency. Our customers value suppliers who can take on complex parts or tight timelines, but what matters most is doing what we say we’ll do and being honest when things go off track. If we miss a commitment, we owe our customers early notice, a recovery plan, and regular updates. They rely on us, and we need to make sure they have the information they need when they’re under pressure too. Problems will happen, but how we handle them is what builds long-term partnerships.

A&D customers are getting more involved in the quality side of things. They’re involving us earlier in the process and using digital portals to exchange key documents like inspection data, first article reports, and material certificates. That speeds up communication and increases customer satisfaction because it makes compliance verification quicker and easier. At the same time, it adds another layer of oversight. We have to be extra diligent to ensure that what we upload matches our internal records, and we’re always double-checking purchase orders for the latest revision of any quality requirements. We’re also seeing more requests for customer-specific training modules, which help align expectations upfront. Overall, the process feels more collaborative, and that early alignment makes a real difference.