the company built partnerships with industry giants Honeywell and DuPont based on collaboration rather than extraction. “It really is about a partnership and building up one another and trying to find new things that we can do with their materials that they may have never known about,” Groat notes. MASTERING THE SUPPLY CHAIN The supply chain disruptions that crippled many manufacturers during and after the pandemic have become a distant memory for Safe Life Defense. A dedicated logistics team now monitors inventory daily, projects future needs, and coordinates closely with suppliers to prevent stockouts.This collaboration also supports the marketing department, ensuring production aligns with anticipated demand spikes. “Our logistics department monitors what we have in stock, projecting what we need, working very closely with suppliers to make sure that everything is scheduled,” Groat says. The system has proven remarkably effective.“It’s been very, very smooth for the past year where we haven’t really had any supply issues and that’s taking on a lot of new vendors as well.” Aside from solving immediate logistics challenges, the company has pursued a larger strategic shift: bringing manufacturing back to American soil. Approximately three to four years ago, Safe Life Defense acquired a new building specifically designed to enable domestic production of items previously made offshore. The move addresses operational control and market requirements.“That is very important, especially for our newer segments, 154 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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