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DALLAS, APRIL 19, 2002 - Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced today that its Milledgeville, Ga., facility has achieved Boeing Preferred Supplier Certification at the highest level in recognition of the company's rating among top suppliers to Boeing. The Milledgeville facility is one of the few manufacturers to achieve gold level certification from Boeing, and was the only major outside production supplier in the continental United States to achieve this ranking in 2001.
The Boeing Co. certifies suppliers for their performance in technical product development, Lean manufacturing and business operations that contribute to consistent delivery of the highest-quality products and services on time at best value. Boeing Preferred Supplier Certification is a best-practice implemented company-wide to promote continuous quality improvement throughout the supply base.
Boeing suppliers can achieve Preferred Supplier Certification at the gold, silver or bronze level after three in-depth evaluations. The first reviews advanced quality systems, targeting variability reductions and productivity improvements in manufacturing and administration. The second summarizes quarterly supplier performance for quality and delivery. The third examines business processes affecting products and technology, and reviews a supplier's leadership and organization skills. Completion of the certification process is intensive and can take years for a supplier to achieve, according to The Boeing Co.
"Our commitment to quality and excellence made this possible," said Tom Risley, Vought President and Chief Executive Officer. "This is an important recognition for our Milledgeville employees." Vought has supplied Boeing with commercial aircraft components since 1968, when design and development of the Boeing 747 long-range wide-body airplane began. Today, Vought supplies aerostructures for almost all Boeing commercial airplanes.
The Milledgeville facility supplies components for the Boeing C-17, Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777, and the V-22. The site employs approximately 520 people.
In 2000, Boeing Commercial Airplanes named the Vought Milledgeville site one of its top 100 suppliers for continuously delivering high-quality, complex parts and assemblies during that year. The site also earned the Quality 100 award in 2001 from The Boeing Co., at the enterprise level.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. is the world's largest independent supplier of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company provides wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles, thrust reversers and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has more than 5,000 employees and annual sales exceeding $1 billion. It has operations in Dallas; Hawthorne, Calif.; Stuart, Fla.; Milledgeville, Ga.; and Perry, Ga. |
