Supplier Management Solutions, Inc. Recognized As Northrop Grumman's 2008 Supplier of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 9, 2009 -- Supplier Management Solutions, Inc. was one of 11 companies to receive a Supplier of the Year designation in this, the fourth year for the awards program. Steve M. Clarke, President of SMS, Inc. received the award on behalf of the company on May 6 at a luncheon sponsored by Northrop Grumman in El Segundo, California.

“SMS’s ‘boots-on-the-ground’ supplier management services make it possible for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace and Space programs to meet the delivery commitments they make to their customer’s on-time, every time” said Steve Clarke, SMS Inc., President. “We’re honored to be part of the team that’s helping the men and women of the U.S. armed forces protect our country, accomplish their mission, and return home to safety.”

Northrop Grumman developed its Supplier of the Year Award program to recognize the critical role that its suppliers play in the delivery of high-performance products that the company produces for U.S. and international customers. The program is an outgrowth of the company’s strategic sourcing initiative, which began in 2003 as a way for the company to build stronger long-term relationships with its suppliers.

Under this initiative, suppliers receive a quarterly score on criteria such as quality, on-time delivery and participation in affordability initiatives. To be considered for a Supplier of the Year award, a company must demonstrate consistently superior performance in delivering products and services to Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for a variety of tactical and strategic airborne systems, including the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 stealth bomber, the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, and Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance system; the U.S. Navy’s E-2 family of early warning and battle management aircraft, the Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system; and others. It also serves as a major subcontractor to Lockheed Martin on the F-25 Joint Strike Fighter program, and to Boeing on the Navy’s F/A-18 program.

Chuck Wands, sector Vice President, business management and chief financial officer for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, noted that today’s economic climate demands flawless performance on defense programs. “Our suppliers are our partners in the truest sense of the word.” Wands noted, “and they share Northrop Grumman’s commitment to value and customer satisfaction.”

aerospace     Northrop Grumman     SMS solutions     Supplier Management Solutions     Supplier of the Year