Original Date: 07/25/2005
Revision Date: 09/12/2006

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’ Component and Supplier Management system provides a common parts database that can be accessed by 17 Northrop Grumman Electronics Systems sites. The system was developed and coordinated with the Commodity Design Team review process for new part requests to control the company’s Standard Parts List.

The Component and Supplier Management (CSM) system provides a common parts database that can be accessed by 17 Northrop Grumman Electronics Systems (NGES) sites and has a search engine with “dashboard”-style tab buttons for parts search by type. Full data sheets with specifications and cost breakouts can be reviewed as part of a review for a New Part Request (NPR) application. An NPR goes through several reviews and approvals including one by a procuring authority before it can be added to the Standard Parts List (SPL). If the proposed part is of acceptable quality and reliability but is of limited general applicability, it may be placed on provisional Preferred Provider Supplier List (PPSL) status for use in the designed product instead of being added to the SPL.

By controlling the SPL and encouraging the use of common parts in designs, NGES receives quantity price breaks and decreases procurement cycle times. For high-volume parts, the automatic restocking program Autobuy is used that allows preferred suppliers to monitor inventory and restock parts bins as needed, assuring ready availability of frequently used common parts (e.g., nuts, bolts, and small electronic components).

NGES has realized significant cost savings by coordinating the CSM system and the Commodity Design Team (CDT) approach to parts list management.

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