EDS Munich: speaker introduction How efficient co-development enables defence supply chain capability 

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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 Stephan Finkel, Partner and Industry Lead Defence & Security at 3DSE, along with his presentation on the topic of Co-Development and Supply Chain Capability.

Stephan Finkel is a Partner and Industry Lead Defense & Security at 3DSE with over 20 years of experience in consulting R&D-intensive companies. With a creative mindset, strong analytical understanding, and a high degree of intuition, he combines flexibility, empathy, and team orientation in his work. He studied Aerospace Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and served as a research assistant at the Chair of Astronautics at TUM. His industry expertise includes aerospace, defense and security, automotive, and transportation.

His professional focus lies in the design, introduction, and implementation of model-based systems engineering programs, as well as in process and organizational improvements. In addition, he brings extensive experience in change management and qualification programs.

Further areas of expertise include maturity-oriented product development, design-to-cost, requirements engineering and management, translating market requirements into product portfolios, project and risk management, synchronized planning, digital product development processes, and design reviews.

He is recognized as a Project@risk expert and trainer for “Advanced Systems Engineering” qualifications, as well as the author of numerous national and international publications.

Speed, structure, compliance

Defence OEMs are expanding their supplier base and increasingly integrating suppliers from other industries (e.g., automotive, sensors) to quickly access innovation, technological expertise, and scaling potential. Despite high delivery pressure toward the end customer, long procurement cycles and complex verification procedures persist. For collaboration with cross-industry suppliers, OEMs need two things above all: predictable integration capability (clearly defined system boundaries, interfaces, and responsibilities) and simultaneously the ability to manage continuous change.

In the defence sector, late requirements freeze and changing requirements are the rule, not the exception. Unlike the stability and fixed schedules of automotive mass production, defence demands flexibility, controlled change management, and customization even in the frame of small batch sizes. This requires constant bilateral exchange between OEM and supplier/s to jointly shape the system instead of a one-time specification handoff, and thus genuine co-engineering rather than unidirectional delivery.

The presentation addresses the critical capabilities for real value creation within the defence supply chain. Systems Engineering serves as the foundational development framework, but entry requires going beyond the basics. Agile Systems Engineering, model-based approaches, and Concurrent Engineering are essential to meet the demands of high change frequency, small-batch customization, and synchronized multi-speed development across software and hardware. Entry is achieved through compatibility with the overall system (or system of systems) and the ability to adapt continuously.

On this basis, Stefan Finkel’s presentation outlines prioritized Systems Engineering principles and concrete measures that enable cross-industry suppliers to be quickly perceived as reliable partners in the defense sector and to evolve their role from pure component supplier to a systemically effective contributor through SE competence, system maturity, change readiness, and customization capability.

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.

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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.