Original Date: 02/23/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Northrop Grumman Corporation can trace its history back through the pioneering founders of aviation Jack Northrop, the Loughead [sic] brothers, Donald Douglas, and Leroy Grumman, to name a few. Over the years, the company transformed itself from an airplane manufacturer into a premier electronics and systems integration corporation. Today, Northrop Grumman is a leading designer, systems integrator, and manufacturer of military surveillance and combat aircraft; defense electronics and systems; airspace management systems; information systems; marine systems; precision weapons; space systems; and commercial and military aerostructures.

With its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California, Northrop Grumman is organized into five divisions, employs 52,000 personnel, and achieved $9.2 billion in sales for 1997. The BMP survey focused on Northrop Grumman’s Military Aircraft Systems Division (MASD) which employs 14,000 personnel, encompasses 320 acres, and achieved $2.6 billion in sales for 1997. This Division, based in El Segundo, California, is a world-class leader in the manufacture of military aircraft and unmanned airborne vehicles; systems integration and engineering research and development; aerostructure modifications; and upgrades to military air vehicles. Although Northrop Grumman was recently surveyed by BMP in October 1997, this survey focused on the environmental practices of the MASD. Among the best practices documented were Northrop Grumman’s elimination of ozone depleting chemicals; work in process cans; chemical tracking system, and Title V operating permits program.

As the principal subcontractor to Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas), Northrop Grumman produces the center and aft fuselage section; the twin vertical stabilizers; and all associated subsystems for the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter. The F/A-18 production line is housed in the world’s longest, all-wooden building. Constructed entirely of redwood, the 0.5-mile long F/A-18 assembly building still reflects its World War II design of a long, single production-specific line. Other key contracts include the Joint Strike Fighter, the J-STARS Aircraft Mod, and the B-2 Spirit Bomber programs.

The southern California region is one of the most regulated and environmentally restricted parts of the United States for manufacturers. Northrop Grumman learned early on that the regulatory agencies did not have a good understanding of the aerospace industry, and thus the company has taken an active role in the environmental regulatory and rule making process for many years. Only by companies working with regulators can rules be adopted that will achieve their intended goals and work for both groups. Northrop Grumman also maintains core values of customer satisfaction, employee opportunity, environmental compliance, and community outreach. The overall philosophy is to draw upon skills throughout the company so that the very best technologies, processes, and intellectual capital are brought to each program. This outlook enables the company to achieve creative vision, environmental management, and financial advantage necessary to compete in the 21^st Century. The BMP team considers the following practices to be among the best in industry and government.

TABLE OF ACRONYMS:
The following acronyms were used in this report:

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