Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) achieved Maturity Level 3 on the Capability Maturity Model(R) Integration for Development.

The CMMI model measures business process maturity levels and provides customers a metric with which to assess risks and determine the level of process maturity a company has achieved. CMMI also provides a framework for improving processes. CMMI Maturity Level 3 signifies the existence of a defined and managed organizational process.

Process Works, Inc., a partner of Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute, used the Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement to review three ATL programs over two weeks. The programs included technologies in integrated learning, social modeling and human-computer interfaces.

The appraisal was noteworthy because it involved tailorable and flexible program management processes, as well as those for systems, hardware, and software engineering, often only found in research and development organizations such as ATL. The appraisers found that ATL applied these processes with rigor equal to that of traditional development organizations.

"Everyone associated with this effort simply did an outstanding job," said James Marsh, ATL director. "Our next goal is to examine the business value of adopting higher maturity practices in our business, while continuing deployment of our Maturity Level 3 processes throughout ATL."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.

About Lockheed Martin ATL

ATL is an applied research center that develops and transitions enabling and discriminating computing technologies to Lockheed Martin and Department of Defense. Areas of research include artificial intelligence, human cognition, brain-inspired computing, robotic autonomy and others. ATL also develops advanced models for many phenomena, including quantum effects, nano-electrical and mechanical structures, network performance, radio-frequency propagation, and social systems.

About Software Engineering Institute

The Software Engineering Institute is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. The CMMI product suite was developed to integrate multiple capability maturity models into a single improvement framework for use by organizations pursuing enterprise-wide process improvement. CMMI is recognized as the standard for independent benchmarking of process maturity in critical technical and managerial areas.

(R) Capability Maturity Model and CMMI are registered trademarks of Carnegie Mellon University.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin