Boeing

Boeing C-17 Facility Named One of Ten Best Plants in North America

The Boeing [NYSE: BA] C-17 Globemaster III airlifter production complex in Long Beach, Calif., has been named one of the top manufacturing plants in North America by the editors of IndustryWeek magazine, who today announced the facility has earned one of ten 2002 Best Plant awards.

Established in 1990, IndustryWeek's annual Best Plants competition recognizes facilities that are on the leading edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction, and create stimulating and rewarding work environments.

There were approximately 300 entries in this year's Best Plants competition.

"We're honored to be recognized by IndustryWeek as one of the ten best plants in North America for 2002," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

"This is yet another validation that the Long Beach C-17 team and our facilities are world class. I'm extremely proud of our accomplishments that have resulted in receiving this award and I extend my congratulations to the entire Long Beach C-17 team," said Chambers.

In honoring the C-17 complex, IndustryWeek called the Long Beach facility, "a place of record achievement both in terms of the product and the process." The publication added, "The Boeing C-17 complex is benchmarked as an example of the process excellence possible via employee involvement and lean manufacturing technologies."

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $23 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.

###

02-87

For further information:
Larry Whitley
(562) 496-5195
Rick Sanford
562-593-7512