MELBOURNE, Fla., July 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has achieved a CMMI(r) Level 5 rating in the Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Integrated Product & Process Development and Supplier Sourcing (SE/SW/IPPD/SS) models at its Melbourne facility. A Level 5 is the highest possible for benchmarking commercial and defense industry best management practices and processes.
The Melbourne facility, part of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector, has attained the additional organization-wide Level 5 maturity ratings for IPPD and SS against the Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI(r)) standard. The facility achieved a Level 5 rating for SE/SW models last year.
"The success at achieving an additional CMMI(r) Level 5 for the IPPD and SS models at our Melbourne operation is further evidence of our commitment to quality and continuous process improvement," said Alan Doshier, sector vice president and general manager of the facility. "Adding these to our existing systems engineering and software Level 5 processes are key to our business growth and low-risk program execution, especially as we pursue major opportunities such as the Air Force's Air Operations Center Weapon System Integrator and KC-135 Tanker Replacement programs."
"In addition to covering all our engineering disciplines, we had the processes in our program management, procurement and material departments appraised and included in our assessment," said Bob Devoe, director of Engineering, Logistics & Technology at the Melbourne facility. "This Level 5 CMMI rating demonstrates our product-development maturity and that our leadership understands the importance of developing a process culture and is committed to achieving the highest standards."
"The effort this division has made stepping up to an additional CMMI(r) Maturity Level 5 is significant," said Andreas Felschow, external lead appraiser for The Process Company and SEI partner.
This rating ranks Northrop Grumman within the top 10 percent of the industry in process management and assures Northrop Grumman customers that the company is providing improved quality, greater productivity and predictable program performance.
The rating was achieved after a comprehensive assessment conducted at the company's Melbourne, Fla., facility. The Process Company, LLC, an external organization independent of Northrop Grumman, conducted the appraisal in accordance with the formal Standard CMMI(r) Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI(tm)) methodology.
The Software Engineering Institute is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. The institute's core purpose is to help others make measured improvements in their product development capabilities.
The CMMI(r) standard was developed by a coalition of industry, government and the Software Engineering Institute to objectively assess the full range of an organization's software and systems engineering, product development, program management and organizational management capabilities. There are five levels of CMMI(r) maturity, each a layer in the foundation for ongoing process improvement, designated by the numbers one through five with five being the highest. Higher maturity levels signify lower risks to successful program execution.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
(r) Capability Maturity Model Integrated and CMMI are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.