The Path to Purchase in aerospace & defense
Lead generation for aerospace and defense suppliers
Aerospace buyers check certifications first. A visit to your AS9100 or NADCAP page says more than any time-on-site number.
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The supply chain
The aerospace & defense ladder: where do you sit?
Pick your tier. SiteSonar shows who usually orders from you and who often specifies your part.
I am
YouUsually orders from youOften specifies your part
- OEMBrand Airframers and defense primesDesigns and sells the end product. Usually the specifier.
- Tier 1Systems Landing gear, avionics, engines, interiorsBuilds systems, modules or finished assemblies for the OEM.
- Tier 2Components Actuators, harnesses, assembliesMakes components and sub-assemblies for Tier 1.
- Tier 3Parts & processes Machined fittings, sheet metal, special processes (NDT, anodize)Makes parts or performs a process: molding, machining, stamping, coating, plating.
- Tier 4Materials Aerospace alloys, composite prepreg, fastenersConverts and supplies materials: compounds, alloys, bar stock, film, chemistry.
- Tier 5Raw materials Aluminum and titanium millsProduces raw materials: mills, refineries, petrochemicals.
Your Path to Purchase in aerospace & defense
You sell to:
Often specified by:
Both matter. The tier above places the order; the OEM decides what the part must be. SiteSonar's agent names both on each lead.
Example paths
Paths SiteSonar finds into aerospace & defense
| They make or run | Component or need | Your offer | Ordered by | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft systems | Fittings and manifolds | AS9100 precision machining | Tier 2 purchasing | "Which part families are open for quote this year?" |
| Avionics | Electronics housings | Conductive EMI shielding | Design engineering specifies, subcontracts orders | "Are the housings shielded in-house today?" |
| Unmanned aircraft | Airframe brackets | Low-volume fabrication | Startup engineering team | "What build rate do you expect next year?" |
Example companies are illustrative.
Who researches
- Program and manufacturing engineers
- Supplier quality
- Purchasing and subcontract managers
- MRO planners
What they buy from suppliers
- Machined fittings and manifolds
- Sheet metal and assemblies
- Special processes: anodize, NDT, coatings
- Harnesses and electronics
Signals that matter here
- AS9100, NADCAP and ITAR pages
- First article inspection
- Materials and traceability
- Drawing upload with flow-downs
RFQ with drawings and flow-down requirements