In episode 26 of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, we hear from Christopher Janssen, Managing Director at GPC Electronics.
Defence makes up about 10 to 15 per cent of turnover at GPC, the western Sydney contract electronics manufacturer run by Christopher Janssen, who describes it as “a tough but rewarding sector” and one offering good growth potential.
“It is a long horizon, so it’s not something you do because you’re going to get results in one or two years,” he tells @AuManufacturing.
“You have to develop the capabilities, the culture, how to work with defence, the understanding and the relationship with people.”
Janssen shares how and why the company got started as a defence supplier, some of the challenges involved, how GPC has dealt with the semiconductor shortage, some thoughts on how it’s been able to retain capable, long-term staff, and its approach to innovation as a contract manufacturer.
Episode guide
0:20 – Personal and company background.
6:04 – Their customers and their work in defence, which represents about 10 - 15 per cent of turnover.
8:25 - Defence projects, including with BAE on JORN and high-frequency systems, Boeing Defence Australia on the Currawong program.
10:10 – The challenges of working in the defence sector.
13:24 – What does innovation look like as a contract manufacturer?
15:38 – The different ways they’re dealing with the semiconductor shortage.
18:42 – Two-thirds of the company have been there more than 20 years. How do they keep staff interested in what they’re doing?
Relevant links
@AuManufacturing profile of GPC electronics from the 2022 Celebrating Australian Made series
https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/celebrating-australian-made-gpc-electronics
