Lockheed Martin UK - INSYS has held their annual supplier awards at RAF Duxford in Cambridgeshire, in recognition of exceptional supplier performance during 2008.

As part of its commitment to provide the highest quality products and services to customers, Lockheed Martin operates a Preferred Supplier Programme (PSP) to assess, identify and reward suppliers who demonstrate sustained excellence in key performance areas, such as responsiveness and Quality Management systems.

Five suppliers received a Gold award, having achieved an exceptional delivery and quality score, based on their 2008 performance. Five suppliers received a Silver award and thirteen suppliers a Bronze award, all recording excellent on-time delivery and quality.

The UK winners are:

Gold:
Advanced Metals International, IS-Rayfast Ltd, KEC Ltd, Packaging First Limited, Smiths Metal Centres Ltd.

Silver:
Abbey Metal Finishing Ltd, Cromwell Tools Ltd, Jones Stroud Ltd, LPA Channel Electric Ltd, Propak Sheet Metal Ltd.

Bronze:
Aerovac Systems Ltd, Atlas Composites Ltd, Bodycote Thermal Processing, Cambridge Precision Ltd, Drurys Engineering Ltd, Gordano Support Group Ltd, Paint Services Group Ltd, Park Engineering Ltd, RD Taylor & Co Ltd, Self Adhesive Supplies Ltd, Taylor Knightley Engineering Company Ltd, Weedon Electronics Ltd, Westwire Harnessing Ltd.

Lockheed Martin UK - INSYS Supply Chain Director, Paul Bird, said: "We have built close relationships with many of our suppliers and fully appreciate that they are critical to the success of our programmes. These first-class suppliers deserve such recognition."

Lockheed Martin, located at Ampthill in Bedfordshire, is a leader in systems engineering, working on major programmes covering the defence, aerospace and civil sectors. With its niche capabilities and proven solutions, the facility is a partner of choice to supply many British Forces' requirements.

Lockheed Martin UK, a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, is a leader in systems integration working on major programmes spanning the defence, aerospace and civil sectors. The organisation works with more than 100 business partners and employs over 1700 people at sites across the UK.

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.