Lockheed Martin’s Flight to Perfect Quality: An iBASEt MES/Quality Customer Success Story
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- iBASEt Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
- iBASEt Quality Management System (EQMS)
- iBASEt Digital Operations Suite
Tech Stack
- Real-time Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- Six Sigma
- Root-Cause Analysis and Corrective Action procedures
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
- Cost Savings
- Innovation Output
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
Applicable Functions
- Quality Assurance
Use Cases
- Predictive Maintenance
- Process Control & Optimization
Services
- System Integration
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- Training
About The Customer
Lockheed Martin’s Clearwater facility is part of the company’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) division, headquartered in Bethesda, MD. The division’s products include aeronautics, space systems, information systems, global services, and electronic systems. The Clearwater plant employs over 400 people and works with more than 500 suppliers to produce a low-volume, high-mix of ruggedized, high-reliability electronic data and signal processing equipment. The facility supports over 460 programs for U.S. military and international customers, including the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Challenge
Lockheed Martin’s Clearwater plant faced the challenge of maintaining high-quality standards while producing a low-volume, high-mix of ruggedized, high-reliability electronic data and signal processing equipment. The plant needed to comply with stringent specifications, regulatory requirements, and fluctuating schedules for over 30 different programs and more than 20 customers. The management team recognized the need for continuous improvement to stay competitive and achieve quality beyond market demands. A slowdown in demand during the 1990s prompted the management to focus on performance improvement, leading to the development of a culture of quality excellence and continuous improvement.
The Solution
Lockheed Martin’s Clearwater facility implemented iBASEt’s Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with an embedded Quality Management System (EQMS) to integrate production and quality assurance across operations. The MES collects data in real-time during inspection and test operations, immediately alerting on out-of-control conditions. The system also monitors metrics like defects per million opportunities (DPMO) and yield, which are used to establish process improvement goals. The MES facilitates a closed-loop system of continuous improvement by standardizing process improvements in manufacturing instructions. Additionally, the facility uses advanced technologies such as clean manufacturing cells, high-quality inspection systems, and automated solder robots to enhance quality control.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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