By Joe Cogliano
While sequestration is generally bad for defense firms — and military towns, like Dayton — there are definitely opportunities for some businesses to come out ahead should the cuts kick into effect.
That’s the word from industry observers who say well-poised businesses can cash in, even if military budgets are hit with those big, automatic cuts related to the fiscal cliff that is fast approaching.
The best opportunities will come from technologies that “transcend” budget issues and efficiency-driven technologies that multiply the effectiveness of humans, said Joe Zeis, executive vice president and chief strategic officer for the Dayton Development Coalition.
Related: Click here for photos from the recent defense forum on sequestration.
Transcendent technologies include unmanned aeronautical systems; information technology and cyber fields; and advanced materials and sensors.
Efficiency-generating technologies include sensors, advanced data warehousing and retrieval, and human performance.
“These technologies add to the power of the human, and drive cost savings while accomplishing increasingly complex tasks,” Zeis said.
Scott Sullivan, president of Centerville-based SelectTech Services Corp., said government customers increasingly expect their industry partners to bring new solutions, innovative products and services, that will cost effectively meet their needs.
“From a sequestration standpoint, I believe our customers are looking outside the box for such solutions, as the mission has not gotten smaller and we’ll have to do more with less,” said Sullivan, who also serves as president of the local chapter of the National Defense Industry Association. “This can be a positive thing for small and medium size companies that bring creative and innovative ideas at lower costs and reduced schedules to our customer.”
Dennis Andersh, senior vice president and Dayton regional executive for SAIC, said recently at a defense forum that his firm is eying some opportunities to gain some business out of sequestration if it kicks in, but wouldn’t eleborate on the details.
via Some companies to cash in from sequestration opportunities – Dayton Business Journal.