FIVE US AEROSPACE companies have signed an informal agreement enabling them to use each other's laboratories at short notice. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman and Rockwell have signed a letter of intent to share laboratory resources without the need for lengthy contractual negotiations.
The Boeing-initiated alliance is the result of efforts to cut costs by consolidating laboratories, which have left companies with insufficient capacity to handle the peak loading of time-critical projects. Boeing's Defense & Space Group reduced its laboratories from 456 to 132. This cut costs significantly, but forced the company to look for ways to have additional laboratory resources available when needed.
The agreement will result in the creation of an ordering form, which will give laboratory directors the flexibility to use each other's resources. The alliance could lead to industry-wide elimination of over-capacity and duplication of laboratories, Boeing believes.
Source: Flight International
