Aerospace and Defence ERP Software

DISP - the Defence Industry Security Program - is Australia's framework for managing security risks within the defence industry. Businesses that access classified information, work on sensitive defence programs, or supply directly to the Department of Defence are typically required to be DISP accredited. Accreditation involves demonstrating security governance across four areas: personnel security, physical security, information and cyber security, and governance and policy - including alignment with the ASD Essential Eight at Maturity Level 2.

Whether you need DISP accreditation depends on the nature of your contracts and the requirements of your prime contractor. What's clear is that the number of programs requiring it is growing, and prime contractors are increasingly expecting their Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers to be working toward it even where it isn't yet mandatory. Epicor Kinetic supports the systems, access controls, audit trails and document management that DISP accreditation requires - and we can help you understand where your current position sits relative to those requirements.

These are all US-originated compliance frameworks, and they are increasingly relevant to Australian manufacturers - even businesses that have never dealt directly with the US government.

ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) governs the export, import and transfer of defence articles, services and technical data. Any Australian business handling US defence technology may be subject to ITAR obligations, which require role-based access controls, strict audit trails, and careful management of who can access controlled information.

DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) adds US Department of Defense requirements on top of standard federal procurement rules - covering cybersecurity, traceability, counterfeit parts prevention and cost accounting. Australian manufacturers on US-connected programs are frequently subject to DFARS clause flow-down through their prime contractor contracts.

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is the US DoD's cybersecurity framework for the defence industrial base. Level 2 is required for most suppliers handling Controlled Unclassified Information, and is becoming increasingly relevant for Australian contractors working on AUKUS-aligned programs.

Which of these apply to your business depends on your contracts and supply chain relationships. Through our partnership with Cre8tive Technology and Design - a US specialist with over two decades of experience delivering ITAR, DFARS and CMMC compliance ERP - we can help you understand your obligations and build the systems to meet them.

The signs are usually visible before they become critical. Common indicators include: compliance documentation that has to be assembled manually when a prime contractor asks for it; difficulty generating as-built reports or Certificates of Conformance at short notice; project cost tracking that happens outside the ERP in spreadsheets; no clear audit trail for who accessed or changed a record; and supplier certification management that relies on individuals rather than the system.

The harder-to-see risk is what we call silent deselection - being passed over for a contract or removed from an approved supplier list without being told it was your systems that were the issue. Prime contractors evaluate their supply chain continuously. If your governance, traceability and compliance documentation don't hold up to scrutiny, the consequence often isn't a failed audit - it's simply not being considered for the next opportunity.

If you're uncertain where you stand, that uncertainty is itself a signal. We offer an initial conversation to help you understand your position - no obligation, and no generic sales pitch.

Epicor Kinetic is a manufacturing-first ERP platform with built-in tools for the specific demands of defence supply chain work: end-to-end lot and serial number traceability, multi-level BOM management with version control and change management, non-conformance management, First Article Inspection tracking, Certificates of Conformance, as-built reporting, and project cost control aligned with defence contract cost principles including EVM and IBR reporting.

Unlike generic ERP platforms adapted for manufacturing, Kinetic was designed for the complexity of make-to-order and engineer-to-order production environments - the manufacturing modes that define most defence supply chain work. It has been proven in the world's largest defence manufacturing economy, the United States, and is implemented in Australia by Precise Business Solutions - a team with its own deep aerospace and defence industry experience and a track record of delivery for Australian defence supply chain manufacturers.

Cre8tive Technology and Design is a US-based Epicor specialist with over two decades of direct experience delivering compliance ERP to defence contractors navigating ITAR, DFARS and CMMC requirements. Their compliance module extends Epicor Kinetic with capabilities that standard Kinetic doesn't include: automated clause management and flow-down across sales orders, jobs and purchase orders; export control tags and hold points at part and customer level to prevent unauthorised shipments; government contract deliverables tracking; and compliance documentation management with a full audit trail.

For Australian manufacturers, this matters because US-originated compliance frameworks are becoming a routine part of operating in the Australian defence supply chain - particularly for businesses involved in AUKUS-aligned programs or the Global Supply Chain program. No other Australian Epicor partner can offer this capability. Precise brings the local implementation expertise, the Australian defence industry relationships, and the knowledge of how these requirements land in practice for an Australian contractor. Cre8tive brings the proven US compliance technology. Together, it is a combination that is genuinely unique in this market.

Both. Our customers include established Tier 1, 2 and 3 contractors who are managing compliance obligations today and need to lift their systems to match a rising bar - and manufacturers who can see the AUKUS and sovereign capability opportunity clearly, but are still working out what entry into the defence supply chain would actually require.

The two conversations are different, and we approach them differently. For businesses already in the supply chain, the focus is typically on closing specific gaps - audit readiness, traceability, project cost control, or navigating a new compliance framework introduced by a prime contractor. For businesses exploring entry, the starting point is usually understanding what the supply chain actually demands, and building an ERP foundation that makes you credible and contract-ready before the opportunity arrives. The earlier that foundation is in place, the stronger your position when it matters.

Yes - and the relevance of Epicor Kinetic to AUKUS programs goes beyond general manufacturing capability. AUKUS is driving sustained investment across nuclear-powered submarines, guided weapons, autonomous systems, and undersea capabilities - programs that carry some of the most demanding compliance, traceability, export control and project reporting requirements in the defence industry.

Epicor Kinetic provides the audit trail, access controls, project cost management and traceability infrastructure that AUKUS-related supply chain work demands. Through the Cre8tive compliance module, we can also support the ITAR, DFARS and CMMC requirements that increasingly apply to Australian manufacturers involved in AUKUS technology transfer and production programs. For businesses wanting to position themselves for AUKUS opportunities, getting your ERP foundation right now - before the contracts arrive - is the most important step you can take.