From Operations Planning to Holistic and Resilient Supply Chain Ramp‑Up

EDS Munich: speaker introduction From Operations Planning to Holistic and Resilient Supply Chain Ramp‑Up

2026-04-10 From Veronika Maucher 3 min Reading Time

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The European Defence Supply invites you to Munich on 28 and 29 April. We would like to give our readers a preview of our programme. Today, we introduce Christoph Ketterle, Principle at Horváth AG, along with his presentation on the topic of From Operations Planning to Holistic and Resilient Supply Chain Ramp‑Up.

Christoph Ketterle,Principle at Horváth AG.(Source: Horváth AG) — Christoph Ketterle,Principle at Horváth AG.
(Source: Horváth AG)

Christoph Ketterle is a Principal at Horváth where he plays a leading role within the Aerospace & Defence industry practice. With a background in aerospace engineering he supported the procurement of major military systems in Germany and across NATO countries. With extensive experience in strategy, transformation, and organizational development across the defence and high‑tech sectors, he supports clients in navigating complex industry dynamics shaped by technological innovation, geopolitical shifts, and evolving regulatory environments.

Rethinking the Supply Chain

Geopolitical shifts, accelerating capability requirements, and rising demand for next generation defence systems are placing unprecedented strain on the defence supply chain. To meet these challenges, the sector must fundamentally rethink how supply chains are planned, managed, and scaled. This presentation explores a holistic transformation approach—spanning integrated planning, operational excellence, supplier development, and portfolio diversification—to achieve a resilient and rapid ramp up of defence production.

A modernised Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process combined with production scenario planning lies at the heart of this transformation. Defence programs face volatile demand signals, long lead times, and supply constraints that require far more than traditional planning cycles. By embedding production scenario planning, organizations can anticipate disruptions, stress test ramp up pathways, and align stakeholders across engineering, procurement, production, and finance. This integrated foresight enables proactive decision making and more robust planning against uncertainty. Thus, creating a reliable commitment for suppliers.

Beyond planning, the optimization of end to end supply chain management is essential. Strengthened procurement processes, improved supplier quality management, and more structured supplier governance models help safeguard delivery reliability and production stability. Digital tools, standardised processes, and performance based collaboration frameworks support higher trans-parency and faster issue resolution across multi tier supplier networks.

However, ramp up success increasingly depends on supplier enabling. Many suppliers—particularly SMEs and new dual use entrants—require targeted support to reach defence grade maturity. Through quality measures, regulatory guidance, and operational excellence initiatives, OEMs can unlock additional production capacity and ensure quality and reliability at scale.

Finally, the growing demand for unmanned and other affordable one way effectors calls for strate-gic diversification of the supplier portfolio. Incorporating commercial and dual use manufacturers reduces bottlenecks, stimulates innovation, and builds resilience into the industrial base.

Europe’s security landscape is changing rapidly

As defence budgets rise and EU programmes expand, civil technology providers are becoming vital contributors to Europe’s strategic autonomy. The event will act as a neutral platform for dialogue between technology suppliers, integrators, and decision-makers shaping the next generation of European defence capabilities and aims to open doors between civil industry and defence procurement, providing practical insights.

Find out more and register

About European Defence Supply

The European Defence Supply is a key event for the European defence industry. It offers a neutral platform to facilitate the entry of civilian technology providers into the defence industry. The EDS aims to foster new partnerships, provide answers to questions, and ease market access. Discussions will cover NATO strategies and the challenges faced by new market entrants, addressed through practical presentations and discussions.

The event will take place at the Design Offices Munich Macherei, featuring a networking event on 28 April at 19:00 and the conference on 29 April starting at 8:45. Further information and registration are available on the event's website.

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