Boeing

Baszile Metals Service of Los Angeles has been named The Boeing Company 1998 Small Disadvantaged Business Supplier of the Year.

The award, which was presented to Baszile executives by John Warner, senior vice president of The Boeing Company, is given annually to a minority-owned small disadvantaged business that is one of the company's top suppliers.

Baszile Metals Service was founded in 1975 by Owner and President Barry L. Baszile, and is the only Black-owned firm to manufacture, process and deliver aluminum sheet, plate, rod, bar and extrusions for the aerospace and defense industries. With headquarters in Los Angeles, and branches in Seattle and in York, Pa., Baszile Metals Service employs approximately 40 people. Baszile provides materials for all business units of The Boeing Company.

"Baszile Metals Service does an outstanding job," said Michael Christiansen, the Boeing employee who nominated Baszile for the honor. "Their on-time delivery percentage is 97.6 percent, and their quality performance is superior. They are well-deserved of this recognition in their efforts to ensure customer satisfaction."

According to Barry Baszile, the key to the company's success is the winning attitude that flows from the top on down.

"Our mission is to continually be one of the leaders in offering competitive prices, quality service and 'just-in-time' delivery programs for our customers," said Baszile. "With nearly 100,000 square feet of warehouse space, and local deliveries at our three locations, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide immediate delivery of material sold from stock," he added.

Baszile Metals has machining and processing capabilities to meet precise customer specifications. Precision sawing, as well as planer mill capabilities enable the company to offer a wide range of non-standard gauges, finishes and sizes. "We produce to commercial and federal specifications, complying with standards of the Aluminum Association," said Barry Baszile. "Our rigid quality control and assurance programs meet the strictest industry standards."

According to Barry Baszile, his company also takes great pride in the job opportunities created for inner-city youth, homeless parents and economically disadvantaged people.

In addition to its business as an aluminum supplier, Baszile Metals Service has created "Welfare to Work Partners," a non-profit corporation that will train welfare recipients to enter the unsubsidized job market. People enrolled in the program are trained according to standards established by industry, including English, math, reading and basic computer operations. According to Barry Baszile, selected candidates who have the interest and aptitude are offered opportunities to be trained as machinists and sheet metal workers for the aircraft and aerospace industries.

For more than 45 years, Boeing has maintained programs designed to ensure that small businesses have an equitable opportunity to compete for contracts. Today, Boeing leads the aerospace industry with our companywide efforts to provide opportunities for small businesses, including those owned by minorities and women. In 1997, Boeing conducted business with more than 42,000 suppliers worldwide. Of those, more than 33,000 were small businesses. Of those, more than 2,800 were women-owned small businesses, and more than 2,300 were small disadvantaged businesses.