Boeing

The Boeing Company Airlift and Tanker Programs component has been named a 1998 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner for manufacturing by the Department of Commerce.

President Bill Clinton and Secretary of Commerce William Daley will present the award to Dr. David Spong, vice president and general manager, Airlift and Tanker Programs, early next year in a Washington, D.C., ceremony.

Airlift and Tanker Programs is a part of Military Aircraft and Missile Systems Group, the St. Louis-based defense segment of The Boeing Company. Airlift and Tanker builds the C-17 Globemaster III for the U.S. Air Force and is also responsible for aerial tanker aircraft and other U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy airlift programs.

Congress established the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1987 to enhance U.S. competitiveness by promoting quality awareness, recognizing quality achievements of U.S. companies, and publicizing successful performance strategies.

"This award caps a dramatic turnaround in the C-17 program," said Dr. Spong. "It signifies a strong commitment to quality, teamwork, people and customer relationships to turn the C-17 into the premier acquisition program in the Air Force today.

"I am extremely proud of all the men and women of the Airlift and Tanker Programs. I am also awed and humbled at our receiving this prestigious award."

Randy Mizer, vice president for Total Quality Integration, said, "We are pleased to have been recognized nationally, because we've known for a long time how good our workforce is. It marks a triumph of innovative thinking, strong leadership and an empowered, enthusiastic workforce. We produce a product as complex and important as the C-17, yet do so with precision quality processes. That ensures consistency of product and lower cost to our customer."

The Airlift and Tanker Programs component employs more than 8,000 people in Long Beach and has another 1,000 in locations around the country, specifically Macon, Ga.; San Antonio, Texas; Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; and Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Airlift and Tanker also won a 1996 California Governor's Quality Award.

The Air Force has contracted for 120 C-17s through the year 2004. To date, 44 have been delivered. The C-17 is capable of carrying 85 tons of cargo over intercontinental distances, yet can land on austere airfields as short as 3,000 feet. It operates with a three-person crew.

Other Airlift and Tanker products and services include the KC-10 Air Force refueling aircraft, the C-32A Executive Transport, the C-40A U.S. Navy Fleet Essential Airlift and maintenance support for the C-17s and KC-10s.

Why Boeing received Baldrige Award

White House Statement on award