BALTIMORE, Aug. 13, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that its Electronic Systems sector campuses in Baltimore and Norwalk, Conn., have been appraised at Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI(r)) Maturity Level 5 -- the highest rating possible -- for a broad range of systems, software and hardware engineering processes with aspects of manufacturing, program management, organizational management, logistics and supply chain management.
Higher maturity levels signify lower risks for successful program execution, and fewer than five percent of all rated companies achieved Maturity Level 5 in 2009. Both Northrop Grumman campuses design, develop and manufacture advanced electronics for military, civil and commercial use.
CMMI(r) is a process improvement framework that organizations use to improve their ability to build and maintain quality products and services. The framework defines a set of objective standards for assessing an organization's full range of engineering and organizational processes. CMMI(r) is also a collection of best practices that addresses process performance, product costs, risks, and quality; it emphasizes alignment of the process improvement objectives with organizational business objectives.
"We continue to raise the bar as defense leaders in engineering, manufacturing and organizational excellence," said Gloria A. Flach, vice president and general manager of Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics for Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. "This CMMI(r) rating reflects the company's ongoing commitment to provide the best value for our customers through continuous improvement."
Northrop Grumman's CMMI(r) appraisal assessed the full range of many disciplines through use of the Standard CMMI(r) Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI(sm)). The appraisal was led by a certified Lead Appraiser from the Center for Systems Management, an independent evaluation company. The appraisal also included a review and affirmation of the Electronic Systems internal auditing program.
The CMMI(r) project is a collaborative effort with participation by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military services and other government agencies, industry, through the National Defense Industrial Association Systems Engineering Division, and the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. CMMI(r) for Development provides a basis for organizations to make measured improvements in their product development capabilities.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Capability Maturity Model Integration and CMMI(r) are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon University.