Barbara Niland Finds Innovation, Long-Term Relationships in HII Supply Chain Mgmt Strategy

Barbara Niland, chief financial officer of Huntington Ingalls Industries, has highlighted how the company manages its supply chain and competes for government ship-building programs, the CFO Journal reported Friday.

Niland told the journal’s John Kester that Huntington Ingalls maintains a long-term relationship with the company’s suppliers and makes advance payments.

“Because we build a carrier [that] lasts for 50 years and [at] 25 years it comes in for a complete overhaul… you may have to go to that supplier 25 years earlier that built that valve to get a new valve,” she told the publication.

Niland said the company also invests in innovation and training in order to keep up with the competition, according to the report.

“We have our own apprentice school and I consider that part of the innovation and how we train our employees and have the skillset for our leadership on the waterfront,” she added.

HII holds a contract with the U.S. Navy to build the new LPD-28 amphibious assault ship, the CFO Journal reports.