Lockheed Martin's center of excellence for training, support solutions, and fingerprint identification technology this week achieved a Level 4 capability maturity assessment against the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model - Integrated (CMMI)(R). The CMMI(R) credential demonstrates that the company coordinates its systems, software and equipment engineering work and drives quality processes throughout the organization. Lockheed Martin's Orlando site is the fourth Lockheed Martin site to achieve either the Level 4 or 5 rating.

Developed by SEI at Carnegie Mellon University, CMMI(R) was developed to provide the U.S. Department of Defense with an objective measure of production proficiency for its industry partners. The Software Engineering Institute Software Productivity Consortium began assessing Lockheed Martin Information System's software and systems engineering processes on June 9 and ended its study on June 27, 2003.

"Lockheed Martin's achievement of this prestigious assessment indicates our perseverance and determination to remain a world leader in the core capabilities of software engineering and systems engineering," said Lockheed Martin Information Systems President Daniel J. Crowley. "And our success, in turn, creates opportunities for engineering excellence throughout a core of high technology-based small- and medium-sized businesses." Lockheed Martin provides a solid base for the high technology industry's small businesses by outsourcing approximately 50 to 60 percent of the work it receives in its role as a prime contractor.

Lockheed Martin Corporation has established an integrated engineering process standard that provides a common framework for accomplishing and sustaining engineering excellence across the enterprise. As part of this initiative each corporate business unit must demonstrate successful implementation by completing a conformance matrix and attain CMMI certification. A company may achieve maturity levels one through five, with five being the most prestigious. Lockheed Martin is one of the few companies in the world to have a business unit achieve a Level 5 assessment.

The CMMI model links management and engineering activities to business objectives, drawing from the best practices of the Capability Maturity Model for Software (SW-CMM)(R), the Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM), and the Integrated Product Development Capability Maturity Model (IPD-CMM) developed by Carnegie Mellon Institute. CMMI is a service mark of Carnegie Mellon University.

Lockheed Martin employs more than 6,500 employees in the central Florida area. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Information Systems