Two Northrop Grumman Facilities Achieve Highest CMMI(r) Rating for Systems, Software and Hardware Engineering

Two Northrop Grumman Facilities Achieve Highest CMMI(r) Rating
for Systems, Software and Hardware Engineering
Aug 13, 2009

BALTIMORE - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that its Electronic Systems sector campuses in Baltimore and Norwalk, Conn., have been appraised at Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI(r)) Maturity Level 5 -- the highest rating possible -- for a broad range of systems, software and hardware engineering processes with aspects of manufacturing, program management, organizational management, logistics and supply chain management.

Higher maturity levels signify lower risks for successful
program execution, and fewer than five percent of all rated companies
achieved Maturity Level 5 in 2009. Both Northrop Grumman campuses
design, develop and manufacture advanced electronics for military,
civil and commercial use.

CMMI(r) is a process improvement framework that organizations
use to improve their ability to build and maintain quality products and
services. The framework defines a set of objective standards for
assessing an organization's full range of engineering and
organizational processes. CMMI(r) is also a collection of best
practices that addresses process performance, product costs, risks, and
quality; it emphasizes alignment of the process improvement objectives
with organizational business objectives.

"We continue to raise the bar as defense leaders in
engineering, manufacturing and organizational excellence," said Gloria
A. Flach, vice president and general manager of Engineering,
Manufacturing and Logistics for Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems
sector. "This CMMI(r) rating reflects the company's ongoing commitment
to provide the best value for our customers through continuous
improvement."

Northrop Grumman's CMMI(r) appraisal assessed the full range of
many disciplines through use of the Standard CMMI(r) Appraisal Method
for Process Improvement (SCAMPI(sm)). The appraisal was led by a
certified Lead Appraiser from the Center for Systems Management, an
independent evaluation company. The appraisal also included a review
and affirmation of the Electronic Systems internal auditing program.

The CMMI(r) project is a collaborative effort with
participation by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military
services and other government agencies, industry, through the National
Defense Industrial Association Systems Engineering Division, and the
Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. CMMI(r)
for Development provides a basis for organizations to make measured
improvements in their product development capabilities.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security
company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products,
and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems,
shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial
customers worldwide.

Capability Maturity Model Integration and CMMI(r) are
registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Carnegie Mellon
University.

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