GAA Process - Smart Process, Flawless Execution

Management Philosophy

GAA Solutions is focused on the human element of our business. From our innovative recruitment, hiring and retention processes to the employee development, training and advancement opportunities we champion, we believe in the potential of our workforce and we work to help individuals reach their goals.

Flawless Execution & Customer Alignment

In creating solutions for our customers, we design processes to ensure flawless execution. We provide value by remaining flexible, nimble and people centered.

We make it a priority to be aligned with our customers at all levels. Daily communication is data-driven with an ear for continuous improvement opportunities. We maintain regular meetings with our customers to understand pain points and help develop solutions. Then, we follow through - mapping the specific path to exceed operational KPIs and overall expectations. We never stop trying to improve.

Leading-Edge Logistical Technology

As a world-class provider of Logistical Solutions, we have processes in place to ensure we stay on the leading-edge of logistical technology. We invest in innovative solutions to proactively manage the challenges our customers face - and we continuously work to improve. Our Integrated IT Solution is a vital piece of all the processes developed to solve customer challenges. This system links our logistics solutions seamlessly, provides real-time monitoring and customer access throughout every step of the process.

Focused on Customer Satisfaction & KPIs

We build meaningful KPIs into the custom logistical solutions we provide - and we have processes in place that keep those KPIs top-of-mind, including real-time dashboards throughout our facilities. Integration of client KPIs and our internal KPIs is part of our process. Thus, we deliver for our customers every time. Keeping an open dialogue with each of our customers is also vitally important to ensuring we are focused on what matters most to them in every situation.

World-Class Quality in Operations

GAA's Standard Operating System includes all product development processes:

• Advanced Product Development (product design and innovation)
• Design for Manufacturability (manufacturing process)
• Application Engineering

We focus on well-defined goals, measures and incentives - all aligned to customer expectations, KPIs and desired outcomes. GAA operates as an empowered organization with the standardized processes and tools to drive results:

• Clear Manufacturing Processes
• Compliance & Quality Systems
• In-Plant, Supplier & Customer Liability/Warranty Management

With an enterprise-wide commitment to quality and clear management oversight, we have a culture of accountability with the people-centered practices in place to promote the behaviors and actions needed to enable success - for individuals, teams and most importantly for our customers. This includes everything from organizational structure and decision rights to metrics, open feedback loops and incentives.

Lean Six Sigma

GAA strongly believes in the Six Sigma Philosophy to ensure Lean Operations. We have a Six Sigma Black Belt leading these efforts throughout the organization. We utilize Six Sigma to improve quality and efficiency of process outputs, remove the cause of defects and minimize variability in our warehousing, assembly and business processes.

We deploy Six Sigma methodology throughout our Quality Management Systems, Project Management, KPIs, Corrective Action and Lean Operations initiatives.

Throughout our family of companies, we integrate Lean Six Sigma and Logistics into a cohesive process designed to:

• Improve Efficiency
• Reduce On-Hand Inventory Levels
• Ensure Inventory Accuracy
• Streamline the Distribution Process
• Accelerate Lead Times & Delivery Times
• Reduce Costs

DMAIC Methodology for Continuous Improvement

Leadership also deploys the DMAIC Project Methodology in five phases:

• Define the problem, the voice of the customer and project goals
• Measure key aspects of the current process and collect relevant data
• Analyze data to investigate and verify cause-and-effect relationships and seek out root cause
• Improve or optimize current process based on data analytics
• Control future state process to eliminate defects, minimize variability and improve efficiency

GEMBA

The daily GEMBA Walk is an essential part of the Lean management philosophy. It allows managers and leaders to observe the actual work process, engage with team members, gain knowledge about the work process and explore opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Communicate - Goals and objectives are clearly communicated
• Observe - Understand then identify opportunities to improve the process and workspace by eliminating waste
• Cooperate - Interacting with team members enables leaders to uncover problems and quickly eliminate them
• Recognize - Leaders take the opportunity to praise people for the work they do
• SOLVE PROBLEMS PROACTIVELY & EFFICIENTLY

Project Management

GAA understands that for programs to be successful, strong Project Management must be in place for execution of new initiatives and for engineering change control management.

We believe in the Advanced Quality Planning (AQP) approach because the key to success is effort spent in the early project stages. It keeps implementation on schedule, assures customer requirements are met and ensures the processes implemented are optimal, effective and efficient. We build quality into every process from the beginning.

The early stage of AQP keeps us focused on understanding and meeting all customer needs and expectations. That's why one of our first steps for each new project is to hold the initial AQP Workshop.

Change management process has two main goals: supporting the processing of changes and enabling the traceability of changes, which is made possible through our Engineering Change Management Systems program.

The goal of Project Planning is to facilitate the right communication at the right time in the process with everyone involved to assure that all steps are completed on time. GAA leadership is committed to the effort required to achieve customer satisfaction and supports this at the highest level of the organization.

Our infrastructure allows us to assign cross-functional teams consisting of top-of-the-line resources with expertise in all related fields. We have phenomenal reach back abilities to pull resources with key expertise to cover every function in every program.

Plan, Do, Check, Act

Dialogue & Cooperation - We emphasize a consultative, inclusive approach to project implementation. The involvement of counterparts in the process design and implementation is essential to ensure that change management programs are effective and supportive.

Ownership & Empowerment - It's important to concentrate on the development of local talent. As a company, we empower team members based on solid risk management approaches and motivational strategies. We coach project staff in field offices on all aspects of project management, including human resources, inventory control systems, warehouse management, change management, internal financial control and work planning. Investing in our team members delivers better thinking, better solutions and better execution for our customers.

Integrity & Accountability - It's important to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, client concern and service.

Internal Financial & Risk Controls - Strong internal risk management systems, such as those based on the ISO 9001:2015 & IATF 16949:2016 are critical to the successful implementation of programs.

Quality & Innovation - We use the latest technology in support of project implementation. Our Project Quality Management Teams assure that timing meets or exceeds the customer timing plan. In addition, an SIPOC diagram is developed for each process, which details the steps, assesses risk, defines poke-yoke solutions, assesses tools needed and develops detailed work instructions.