IndustryWeek magazine has named Raytheon Company's Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass., one of its "Best Plants" for 2010.
The annual competition evaluates manufacturing facilities in multiple categories, including quality, on-time delivery, worker safety and focus on continuous improvement, which will increase competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
"Continuous improvement is an on-going journey for us," said Dan Ryan, vice president of operations and integrated supply chain at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Our philosophy is everybody, everyday – ideas from across all areas of the operation are essential for us to continue to increase our efficiency and capacity while maintaining our quality."
Since 2007, the Integrated Air Defense Center has achieved a 6 percent year-over-year increase in productivity and a reduction of manufacturing floor space requirements of 45,000 square feet. One of the center's largest programs is the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System. In the past two years, it has had a 100 percent on-time delivery and no-customer rejections since 2005. Approximately 4,500 people work at the facility.
Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.
