Second Consecutive Appraisal Validates Company's Commitment to Continuous Improvement
SAN DIEGO – 30 June 2016 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, today announced that the Development and Production processes of its Aircraft Systems business unit ("Full-Directed Programs, Systems, and Software") have been appraised at Maturity Level 51 using the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Institute's Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) version 1.3b.
"This is a significant accomplishment in the maturing of an organization's management, development, and support processes," said David Greer, CMMI Institute-certified high maturity lead appraiser, Assess-IT, Inc. "Only a small percentage of companies have achieved this milestone in continuous process improvement. Absent an externally-levied requirement to achieve Maturity Level 5, GA-ASI has set this goal for itself, indicating a deep seated belief in the value of process improvement, and has done so over consecutive appraisals."
CMMI is a process improvement approach that provides organizations with the essential elements of effective processes, ultimately improving their performance. Appraisal at maturity level 5 – the highest that can be attained – indicates that the organization is performing at an "optimizing" level. At this level, an organization continually improves its processes based on a quantitative understanding of its business objectives and performance needs and uses a quantitative approach to understand the variation inherent in the process and the causes of process outcomes.
"We are pleased to once again demonstrate that our processes are continuously improving," said David R. Alexander, president, Aircraft Systems, GA-ASI. "Maintaining the Maturity Level 5 rating underscores our commitment to deliver products that exceed customer needs while also making effective use of metrics to manage and optimize the organization's performance."
1 CMMI Institute, GA-ASI Published Appraisal Results, April 2016.
About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, delivers situational awareness by providing remotely piloted aircraft systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. The company's Aircraft Systems business unit is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, including Predator® A, Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper®, Gray Eagle, the new Predator C Avenger®, and Predator XP. It also manufactures a variety of state-of-the-art digital Ground Control Stations (GCS), including the next-generation Advanced Cockpit GCS, and provides pilot training and support services for RPA field operations. The Mission Systems business unit designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar and sophisticated Claw® sensor control and image analysis software into both manned and remotely piloted aircraft. It also focuses on providing integrated sensor payloads and software for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platforms and develops high energy lasers, electro-optic sensors, and meta-material antennas. For more information, please visit www.ga-asi.com.
Predator, Reaper, Avenger, Lynx, and Claw are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
For more information contact:
Kimberly Kasitz
Public Relations Manager
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
+1.858.312.2294
kimberly.kasitz@ga-asi.com