Wyle’s operations that develop space-rated flight hardware for the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle has been awarded a major hardware development accreditation for using advanced processes to achieve high quality at lower costs.
The company’s Houston-based operations was recently notified that it had been approved for the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3 awarded by the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. CMMI provides guidance for developing or improving processes that meet the business goals of an organization and was developed by a group of experts from industry, government and the Software Engineering Institute.
Wyle’s Houston operations have been supporting NASA’s astronaut corps for more than four decades by providing highly specialized hardware used in space such as the “Colbert” treadmill used by astronauts to stay fit, medical diagnostic equipment and other safety related hardware. The organization also provides a wide range of other medical and crew safety services.
“Achieving CMMI Level 3 is a significant milestone for Wyle’s space flight hardware and software development, and sustaining engineering operations,” said Jim Kukla, Wyle vice president for the company’s Science, Technology and Engineering Group. “It tells our customers that not only are we consistently following recognized and standardized processes but more importantly we are actively working to review and improve these same processes to achieve high quality, lower costs and/or deliver on a shorter schedule.
In trying to meet the CMMI Level 3 requirements, Wyle’s certification approach avoided a compliance-driven “checkbox” approach.
“We successfully balanced the model requirements of CMMI with the actual process needs of Wyle’s highly unique flight hardware/software and sustaining engineering organization,” said Dan Butler, Wyle’s safety, reliability and mission assurance section manager. “We did that by creating a value-added approach that views process as a critical corporate investment and emphasizes user ownership and accountability for process improvement.”
“Over the past several years our customers, specifically at Johnson Space Center, have been challenging Wyle with unique flight hardware and software development requirements, such as significantly compressed development schedules, accelerating technology readiness level maturation, and/or transitioning hardware systems from the lab to flight.”
“In each case, Wyle has successfully stepped up to the challenge. Through award fee scores and direct feedback, our customers tell us that we consistently go above and beyond; that we bring solutions to the table, not just problems; and that “process” does not bind our ability to work through challenges. Reaching this significant industry standard is a leading indicator of the quality of our personnel and leadership in flight hardware and software development and sustaining engineering.”
Wyle, a privately held company, is a leading provider of high tech aerospace engineering and information technology services to the federal government on long-term outsourcing contracts. The company also provides test and evaluation of aircraft, weapon systems, networks, and other government assets; and other engineering services to the aerospace, defense, and nuclear power industries.
Contact:
Dan Reeder
(310) 563-6834
Ref.: NR/12-14
