SYS Makes a Difference with Its Efforts in Strategy, Design, Quality, Branding and Exports
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) achieves worldwide success in a sector that is very competitive.
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) achieves worldwide success in a sector that is very competitive, thanks to its efforts in strategy, design, quality, branding, and exports.
Mr. Aral explains the company’s perspective on the production activities with the following words: “The most important difference between small arms and other defence products is that small arms can be sold to civilian users as well, leading to higher production numbers. SYS has the capacity to produce 450,000 pistols and 2,500 machine guns yearly in its Turkish factories. As can be seen from these numbers, the quality management for pistols cannot be the same for machine guns. SYS uses the serial production methods for maximum production volumes for pistols, while it uses as much as CMM, photographic and robotic measurement systems for machine guns.”
As SYS has grown and expanded, both nationally and internationally, the need for establishing a strategy department became clear in 2020. This department observes the trends around the world within the fields SYS is active and determines future needs, while joining international conferences and workshops. C. Utku Aral, General Manager at SYS, highlights the fact that the company takes all strategic decisions considering the analyses of the Strategy Department.
SYS is creating specialised brands to strengthen its international competitiveness. One such example is CANiK, focusing on end products like machine guns and pistols. Likewise, accessories, tactical training, basic marksmanship training, armourer training and other services and products are under different brands. The brands operate as if they were independent companies, with their own staff. Mr. Aral expressed the following on how they utilise the brands: “SYS can delegate its strategic goals to their relevant brands to achieve them.”
The other brands of SYS are listed as follows: MECANiK, CANiK Tech, CANiK Academy, CANiK News, CANiK Team, CANiK Smart and CANiK App.
SYS is also the only small arms exporter in top 10 companies that are exporting defence and aerospace products.
Mr. Aral shares their view on exports and their future goals as follows: “SYS’ main strategy was set as exports from day one. As Turkish market has its limitations in volume, it is necessary for the sector to export. Defence industry has a high added value as well, with exports contributing to national economy considerably. As of today, Türkiye has started all necessary projects for small arms, with most of them concluding successfully. Feedback from the users and competitiveness will now shape the development, with incremental upgrades for domesticated products in this sector hopefully making users choose them. In addition to said upgrades in small arms, the upgrades for medium calibre weapons will be important as well. SYS is already prepared for this future.”
Exclusive Products for CANiK Brand
SYS has become a company that is followed by many and even a company that guides the sector. Mr. Aral shared the following: “The pistol designs done under CANiK brand set an example for even the oldest of companies in our sector. Not only our design features get imitated around the world, but also the brands we create, even the colour configurations have seen imitations. Today, many leading accessory, plating, and optical sight companies produce products specifically for CANiK. For example, Cerakote developed a colour named “CANiK Rival Grey” in line with SYS’ requests for only CANiK and does not provide other manufacturers with this colour. Again, many companies that produce holsters, compensators, suppressors, flashlights etc. produce products fit for CANiK only.”Different Quality Processes for Different Quantities
Another factor for the success of SYS and CANiK enjoy is the experience of SYS with the industrialisation of a product and its infrastructure. Industrialisation is as important as design of the product. The ability to manufacture products in high quantities rapidly with consistent standards also allows for the best possible logistics services.Mr. Aral explains the company’s perspective on the production activities with the following words: “The most important difference between small arms and other defence products is that small arms can be sold to civilian users as well, leading to higher production numbers. SYS has the capacity to produce 450,000 pistols and 2,500 machine guns yearly in its Turkish factories. As can be seen from these numbers, the quality management for pistols cannot be the same for machine guns. SYS uses the serial production methods for maximum production volumes for pistols, while it uses as much as CMM, photographic and robotic measurement systems for machine guns.”
As SYS has grown and expanded, both nationally and internationally, the need for establishing a strategy department became clear in 2020. This department observes the trends around the world within the fields SYS is active and determines future needs, while joining international conferences and workshops. C. Utku Aral, General Manager at SYS, highlights the fact that the company takes all strategic decisions considering the analyses of the Strategy Department.
Awards-Hunter Products by SYS
One of the most important factors making SYS a successful firearms company is its ability to analyse the user and determine the user’s needs, along with designing products to meet these needs. Mr. Aral expresses the design capabilities of the company with the following words: “The awards received by SYS’ CANiK branded pistols, and their accessories is the greatest proof of our achievements in design”. These awards are listed as follows:- CANiK TP9 Elite SC model won the Concealed Carry Pistol of the Year in the 2020 Industry Choice Awards, held in the USA.
- CANiK TP9 SFx and CANiK TP9 Elite Combat models won the Handgun of the Year awards in 2017 and 2019 respectively at the Industry Choice Awards (ICA). And CANiK brand accessories won the Value Accessory of the Year award in 2018.
- CANiK’s TP9 SFL and TP9 Elite SC models were awarded in 2018 and 2020 with the Editor’s Choice – Versatile/Value Pistol award (left) and Compact Semi-Auto Handgun award (right) respectively by the Ballistics Best, US based magazine.
A Pioneer in ERP
SYS took an important decision in 2021 to rebuild all its ERP infrastructure based on Microsoft FO / Dynamics 365, being one of the few companies in Türkiye to have such a comprehensive ERP infrastructure. The biggest reason why SYS is investing millions of dollars in ERP is its new factory in West Palm Beach, Florida, expected to be fully operational by the end of 2022 with an initial production volume of 150,000 pistols.Specialised Brands for Every Field
SYS is focusing on its branding strategy these days as well, giving the company an opportunity to easily compete in the international markets with the most prominent rivals.SYS is creating specialised brands to strengthen its international competitiveness. One such example is CANiK, focusing on end products like machine guns and pistols. Likewise, accessories, tactical training, basic marksmanship training, armourer training and other services and products are under different brands. The brands operate as if they were independent companies, with their own staff. Mr. Aral expressed the following on how they utilise the brands: “SYS can delegate its strategic goals to their relevant brands to achieve them.”
The other brands of SYS are listed as follows: MECANiK, CANiK Tech, CANiK Academy, CANiK News, CANiK Team, CANiK Smart and CANiK App.
Unidef and Unirobotics Enhance SYS’ Products
SYS’ joint ventures Unidef and Unirobotics are running important projects to integrate CANiK M2 heavy machine gun to land, sea, and air platforms. Active Stabilised Weapon Mount, Gun Pod, Twin Gun Air Defence Mount are some of the projects that in their conclusion phase.Leading the Sector in Exports
Today, ninety-five percent of all the products SYS produces are for the export market. The export success of SYS within the Turkish companies is not limited to pistols, but rather all small arms. According to the data published by Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, total exports for Türkiye increased by 32,9 percent last year, reaching $225,367,676,000. Defence and aerospace sector, with its 41.5 percent increase, was trending higher than Turkish average for the same year. After a survey by Defence and Aerospace Industry Exporters’ Association done with 2020 export data, SYS was given the Largest Exporter award for the Small Arms Category. SYS increased its exports by 40 percent in dollars in 2021, again winning the Largest Exporter award for the Small Arms Category.SYS is also the only small arms exporter in top 10 companies that are exporting defence and aerospace products.
Mr. Aral shares their view on exports and their future goals as follows: “SYS’ main strategy was set as exports from day one. As Turkish market has its limitations in volume, it is necessary for the sector to export. Defence industry has a high added value as well, with exports contributing to national economy considerably. As of today, Türkiye has started all necessary projects for small arms, with most of them concluding successfully. Feedback from the users and competitiveness will now shape the development, with incremental upgrades for domesticated products in this sector hopefully making users choose them. In addition to said upgrades in small arms, the upgrades for medium calibre weapons will be important as well. SYS is already prepared for this future.”
