BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies sees the benefits of AS9100
15 May 2008
Topics: Aerospace, AS9100, USA
In a move designed to demonstrate its unswerving commitment to quality and reliability, Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies (LMCT) was recently certified to the AS9100 standard by BSI Management Systems.
With over 20 years' experience, LMCT is a world-leader in the development of technology which sees what can't be seen. Achieving this certification is the latest advancement made by Coherent Technologies in its mission to take innovative laser radar concepts and develop them into high quality products for airport, defence and meteorological applications.
Innovative concepts
Among the applications LMCT has pioneered are state-of-the-art sensors for wind and aerosol sensing used in ground, airborne and space platforms; micro-Doppler imaging applications for the detection and identification of non-cooperative targets; chemical and biological agent detection systems for homeland defence as well as remote monitoring of pollution and carbon dioxide; and 3-D active imaging which detects masked or occluded targets in military applications and commercially includes terrain mapping and obstacle avoidance for autonomous vehicles.
Moreover, since its acquisition by Lockheed Martin in 2005, LMCT has doubled its number of highly qualified research scientists, engineers and technicians. During this rapid growth, the company has also instituted process improvements and built new, state-of-the-art facilities for the production and test of space-qualified laser radar systems.
Demonstrating commitment
AS9100 was written by the International Aerospace Quality Group and is used and supported by the world's leading aerospace companies, as well as throughout their supply chain partnerships. The standard includes all the requirements of ISO 9001 in addition to requirements specifically applicable to aerospace companies, which operate in environments where mistakes or failures can be fatal. It provides international consistency and addresses the specific regulatory, safety and reliability requirements demanded by the aerospace sector.
Reflecting on the recent successful certification through BSI Management Systems, Randy Wilkerson, senior staff quality engineer at Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies commented: "Our AS9100 certification demonstrates to our customers that we have a commitment to quality and reliability."
Perhaps uniquely, LMCT adopted AS9100 from a standing start. Wilkerson continues: "The AS9100 certification was accomplished in a short amount of time for an organization without a previous ISO 9001 baseline. This required employee training and process improvements additional to the normal upgrade from ISO 9001 to AS9100. Every member of our team has gone the extra mile to meet AS9100 requirements."
Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies is part of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Lockheed Martin Space Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security, civil and commercial customers.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of US $41.9 billion.
For more information on AS9100 in the USA, visit: www.bsiamerica.com/aerospace
Business Standards © 2008. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with the British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
New web standards: first in class
In a world first, BSI British Standards and UK web compliance expert Magus have launched PAS 124 Defining, implementing and managing website standards, a Publicly Available Specification that aims to improve the effectiveness of corporate websites through a new best practice approach to the application and management of website standards.
Kitemark® for furniture removers
Ever had to move office? Ever struggled with your moving company and wished there was a better way to find a reliable supplier? There is an answer: BSI Product Services, working with the British Association of Removers (BAR), has published PAS 126:2008, covering commercial furniture removal activities.
Are you "Fit to supply" 2012 Olympic Games?
Business Link, the support and networking agency funded primarily by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), is working with BSI to help companies in their goal to win contracts for the 2012 Olympic Games.
More than 100 years after BSI was founded - based in part on its work on the standardization of tramway rails - the Group continues to work with the railway industry to maintain and improve its services and equipment. BSI does so by providing assessment and certification services against IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard), the quality standard for the railway industry.
Driving change in the bodyshop industry
High Wycombe-based Motofix has become the 100th bodyshop to earn certification to the Thatcham BSI Kitemark, having demonstrated that it conforms to Kitemark standards. These include skills, repair methods, equipment and materials. The bodyshop was assessed by BSI inspectors and met stringent benchmarks in order to achieve Kitemark status.
Question: Why is risk management important to business?
First, there's more to risk management than just managing risk. Most organizations will talk about risk assessments, but the question is: what are they assessing? If you don't know what the threats are, then how can you conduct an effective risk assessment?
Have a standards-related question for BSI or a comment on the website? We'll find the right person to answer.
