Redstone Government Consulting Blog | Manufacturing Operations Consulting

Are you taking full advantage of all the features that Deltek Costpoint’s Procurement modules can provide to your Manufacturing business? We regularly work with clients to assess their current utilization of the procurement modules and make recommendations on how they can better utilize this powerful capability. In this multi-part article series, we will discuss some of the many Costpoint Procurement features that we want to ensure you are aware of, to help your manufacturing procurement processes run even better. Many of these apply even if you are not a manufacturing business and are just procuring goods & services.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Property Management, Deltek Costpoint, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

Labor relations is not just an HR function; it truly is a core leadership responsibility. Suppose your team is a current union organization or considering unionization. In that case, your frontline managers have to be trained to interact with unions not just legally, but also strategically and respectfully. Having untrained managers can quickly escalate potential issues without realizing it. Here is a comprehensive guide to train managers on effective union interactions.

Topics: Human Resources, Government Regulations, Organizational Change Management Consulting, Manufacturing Operations Consulting, Employers & Unions

I find that depending on whether your job is on the Finance & Accounting (F&A) side or the Materials & Manufacturing side of the business, the perception of the capabilities and benefits of the Deltek Costpoint Inventory module tend to vary drastically.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Property Management, Deltek Costpoint, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

History of Tariffs

While import tariffs may seem unfamiliar due to historically low rates in recent decades, they have long played a significant role in U.S. economic policy-serving purposes such as revenue generation, industry support, and protectionism. Historically, high tariffs have often coincided with periods of economic and political instability, whereas lower tariffs have typically supported international engagement and economic growth. Since World War II and the creation of GATT and the WTO, the U.S. has generally maintained lower average tariff rates.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, Government Regulations, Export & Import, Material Management & Accounting System (MMAS), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

President Trump issued several executive orders addressing tariffs. American First Trade Policy dated January 20, 2025 and Modifying Reciprocal Tariff Rates to Reflect Trading Partner Retaliation and Alignment dated April 9, 2025. In addition, he has also issued a 90-day pause to some countries and is planning to reduce tariffs on certain industries such as US auto tariffs (see Amendments to Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States dated April 29, 2025). It is clear that tariffs are impacting the supply chain and government contractors.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Proposal Cost Volume Development & Pricing, Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Export & Import, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

Looking to streamline your procurement process? Now is the perfect time to begin reviewing your complete source to pay process to increase efficiency, productivity, integration, and revenue.

Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Deltek Costpoint, Manufacturing Operations Consulting

The FAR Council issued an interim rule, effective December 4, 2023, which implements the requirements of the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA). This included three new FAR clauses which prohibit the delivery or use of “covered articles” subject to a FASCSA order in the performance of a government contract.

Topics: Contracts & Subcontracts Administration, DFARS Business Systems, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), Government Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Manufacturing Operations Consulting

You have done the difficult work of developing a product that meets the technical specifications, quality, and reliability your Government customer requires. As you move from design to manufacturing, Redstone Government Consulting can help you plan and prepare for your Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR) or Production Readiness Review (PRR). These phase gates may be required by your contract as part of the project bringing your product from design into manufacturing. Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR) is the phase gate that typically follows the Critical Design Review (CDR), where the design is frozen. It is very common for this to be the point in the project that the manufacturing team becomes involved in preparing to produce the product.

Topics: Manufacturing Operations Consulting