Gulfstream Recognizes Vought for Excellent Performance

STUART, FLA., JUNE 3, 2009 – Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has awarded one of its top annual supply chain awards to Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. for the company’s excellent performance on the G350/G450 nacelles.  Nacelles refer to the structure surrounding an aircraft engine.

The award is based on achieving excellent performance through four consecutive quarters within the same calendar year in five categories: total value chain cost; quality; reliability; delivery; and product/aftermarket support.

This is the second consecutive year Gulfstream has recognized Vought for supplier excellence in producing G350/G450 nacelles.

“Receiving this award two years in a row means our processes and systems are sustainable,” said Paul Sandhu, general manager for the Vought facility in Stuart, Fla., responsible for producing the Gulfstream nacelles. “It takes all of us, working together as a team, to achieve these kinds of results and accolades.” About 25 Vought employees work on the Gulfstream G350/G450 nacelle program in Stuart.

Several Vought facilities support the Gulfstream G350/G450 nacelles program. Its Milledgeville, Ga., facility builds the G350/450 acoustic panels and ships them to Stuart for inclusion in the nacelle product. Program management and after-market support are handled through Vought’s Dallas office.

“Gulfstream bases this award on superior performance from many areas within Vought including Engineering, Production, Aftermarket Spares Management, and Quality,” said Roy Grannell, Vought nacelles program manager. “All of these groups are critical to producing more that just a nacelle component to Gulfstream; we are providing a value-added support system around the nacelles as well."

Vought has produced the Gulfstream nacelles since the original GIV program began in 1985, delivering 708 nacelle shipsets (1,416 units) to date.

About Vought

Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (www.voughtaircraft.com) is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales of approximately $1.8 billion and about 6,600 employees in nine U.S. locations.