Original Date: 05/01/2000
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Northrop Grumman Defensive Systems Division (DSD) identified a need for an on-site high technology laboratory which could handle diagnostic failure analysis, material evaluation, and process/design analysis support. As a result, significant investment was made to establish the Material Evaluation Laboratory (MEL). The MEL features an outstanding variety of special testing, diagnostics, and analytical capabilities required for testing and verifying numerous types of materials and components.

An on-site laboratory provides many benefits including timely analysis results, accessibility of expertise, and reduction in outsourcing expenses. However, reliability testing and analysis also demand a wide range of expertise and test equipment. Northrop Grumman DSD’s staff of chemists, physicists, metallurgists, electrical engineers, and materials scientists provide this expertise, while the MEL houses advanced test equipment including a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersion x-ray; Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectrometer; thermal analysis system; atomic absorption spectrophotometer; real-time five-axis x-ray; scanning acoustic microscope; ultraviolet spectrophotometer; tensile tester; and Rockwell hardness tester.

The MEL’s diversified and proven experience is a valuable tool in problem identification, analysis and responsive formulation of solutions, and specific customer challenges. The laboratory’s unique capabilities and expertise have led to direct improvement in the producibility and reliability of Northrop Grumman DSD’s products.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.