From Compliance to Contracts: How Your QMS & Cybersecurity Unlocks Customer Opportunities

Winning contracts from prime contractors and OEMs requires more than competitive pricing, technical expertise, and a modern website—it demands a proven ability to deliver consistent quality and compliance across both quality and cybersecurity standards. In this session, we will explore how a robust Quality Management System (QMS) or Business Management System (BMS), which includes comprehensive cybersecurity measures, plays a pivotal role in securing these high-value contracts. Attendees will learn how prime contractors and OEMs are increasingly evaluating suppliers not just for product quality, but for their ability to meet stringent requirements for documentation, traceability, cybersecurity, and risk management.

To bring this to life, we will highlight a compelling case study of how Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM) used these exact principles to ace a rigorous week-long audit to meet the demanding requirements of NAVSEA Technical Publication S9074-A2-GIB-010/AM-PBF—a standard critical for qualifying additive manufacturing processes for Navy applications. A 15-strong team of Navy Auditors and prime shipbuilders immediately approved KAM after the “intensive” week-long audit. By embedding a proactive approach to managing quality, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and customer communication, KAM elevated its posture to a strategic partner to the Navy, jumping directly past the R&D approval it was seeking with the audit.

KAM’s meticulous preparation, rigorous internal processes, and commitment to continuous improvement culminated in one of the auditors stating: “In all my years of auditing, that was the smoothest audit I’ve ever been a part of.” This accomplishment highlights the transformative power of a well-executed QMS/BMS, showcasing the level of excellence required to build trust with high-level customers like the U.S. Navy. Attendees will learn how KAM’s approach, supported by a strong QMS/BMS framework, can unlock similar growth opportunities.