General Atomics

November 17 – General Atomics (GA) Contracts & Purchasing department hosted its fifth, and first virtual, Supplier Day, themed, “Global Progress through Technology”, with over 300 attendees. The event, GA’s largest Supplier Day to date, expressed the company’s appreciation for its Suppliers, even amid a global pandemic.

Denyce Carter, Vice President of Contracts and Purchasing for GA, thanked Suppliers for continuing to meet delivery and quality requirements and for standing by GA, saying “We do not compromise in the face of adversity; [GA recognizes] the importance of valuing our Suppliers and treating them fairly, and recognizing their role in our success.” She further stated, “In these changed circumstances, we remain committed and focused on ethics and corporate responsibility.”

Executives from GA’s primary business lines emphasized the diversity of technology and continued growth of GA over the last 55 years. Dr. Roberto Vasquez, the Chief Operating Officer of GA Energy group said, “We make significant innovations each year.” He continued, “As the ideas mature, we’ll be looking for Suppliers who can provide specific services or products that help us to successfully complete these projects.”

The day continued with topical sessions dedicated to supplier learning and engagement with subject matter experts. The sessions, styled after GA’s Supplier Newsletter, included the Compliance Corner, Quality Matters, and On the Horizon presentations. These discussions touched on Cybersecurity, the Ariba® tool and various quality requirements.

A notable breakout session, Powerful Partnerships, conducted in conjunction with the San Diego Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), saw GA’s Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO) Mark Medina and PTAC representative Brett Householder reviewing the myriad resources offered by GA and the Small Business Administration to help small businesses participate effectively in the defense industry.

During the event, GA recognized five suppliers for exemplary performance in its Supplier Performance Program Awards ceremony: Eurest; Everson Tesla, Inc.; L&T Precision Corporation; PlastiFab San Diego; San Diego Precision Machining; and Solmar Precision, Inc. Each of the featured Suppliers shared acceptance speeches in prerecorded messages.

To close out the event Purchasing Managers and GA personnel engaged in a panel discussion on best practices, the Supplier Code of Conduct, and emerging technology, all while fielding questions from the audience.

Scott Forney, President of Electromagnetic Systems for GA expressed the theme best during morning remarks, ‘Global Progress through Technology’ means overcoming external challenges through meaningful technological solutions.  It “also means that we need to continuously develop new technologies and we need the supply base not to lose [their] recipes.”