Florida MEP: Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2007

For more information please contact:
Gene Lussier
Board Chair, Florida MEP
321-939-4000

Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership workshop helps
Matrix Composites Inc. meet needs of major client
Program enables manufacturing company to serve Lockheed Martin more effectively
Rockledge, FL - When Lockheed Martin Aeronautics awarded Matrix Composites Inc. production contracts for critical carbon fiber composite structures on its F22 Raptor Program, the Rockledge-based company needed to find a way to expand capacity for the additional workload. The contracts called for the production of more than 60 aircraft delivered over the next three to four years for which various airframe, fuselage and vertical fin components needed to be manufactured.

“While we were certainly capable of fulfilling the specifications of the Lockheed contracts, we recognized the need to develop a lean approach to meet the client’s expectations for quality and delivery,” said David Nesbitt, CEO of Matrix Composites Inc. “That’s what prompted us to use the resources offered by the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership.”

Matrix asked the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to conduct a Value Stream Mapping workshop of its current production operations and methods for F22 airframe structures. Value Stream Mapping is a team-based approach that allows everyone involved to visualize the current state of the target processes and allows for planning toward a future state. This effort resulted in providing a robust transition plan for the Raptor program without impacting quality and delivery.

“We’re committed to assisting small-to-midsized manufacturers succeed in their business endeavors,” said Peter Weymouth, director of operations for Florida MEP. “When we help companies like Matrix find cost-effective solutions, the entire state benefits from their success.”

Florida MEP is a non-profit service available to every manufacturer in the state to help them compete more effectively in the global marketplace. Improved efficiency, elimination of waste, international certifications, integration into global supply chains and connecting Florida businesses to the resources they need to become more profitable are among the benefits of working with the Florida MEP. In fact, in a recent survey, Florida MEP clients reported $96.2 million in increased and retained sales and 1,596 jobs created or retained as a direct result of guidance received by the program.

Part of a nationwide network of MEP centers in all 50 states, and linked together through the Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Florida MEP enables even the smallest firms in Florida to have easy access to more than 2,000 manufacturing, technical and business specialists, along with the latest technology and industry best practices.

To learn more about the Florida MEP program call 321-939-4000 or visit www.floridamep.org.

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