NewSpace Research: Building the UAV Supply Chain Map
Mapped the global supply chain for UAV components, creating a sourcing tracker that gave the team visibility into suppliers and lead times.
Divya Shah
Founder's Associate at PAVE Space SA
From their time as
Design Engineer II
NewSpace Research and Technologies • 2018 - 2021
Overview
At NewSpace Research, Divya was tasked with understanding where the company's supply chain would come from as it scaled its UAV programs. The company had no existing supplier map, and most components were sourced ad hoc.
The Story
At NewSpace Research, Divya was tasked with understanding where the company's supply chain would come from as it scaled its UAV programs. The company had no existing supplier map, and most components were sourced ad hoc.
He mapped the global supply chain for commercially off-the-shelf UAV components, identifying primary suppliers and original equipment manufacturers, most of whom were based in Europe and China. The research covered both availability and lead times.
He built the output as a structured Excel tracker with supplier contacts, effectively functioning as a lightweight CRM for the procurement function. The tool gave the team a single reference point for sourcing decisions and supplier outreach.
LinkedIn data shows the supply chain work contributed to reducing component lead times by 30%, ensuring timely delivery for UAV programs.