Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

In 1997, Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) combined the Applications Engineering group and the Laboratory group to form a single Materials and Processes (M&P) Engineering team. The Applications Engineering group had consisted of degreed engineers who interfaced with customers, provided expertise on M&P selection, participated on IPTs, and performed failure analyses. The Laboratory group had consisted mostly of non-degreed technicians who operated behind the scenes and provided engineering support to the Applications Engineering group. Although some interaction existed between the groups, each tended to stay in their respective domains which prevented an effective, synergistic-working relationship from developing.

The creation of a single functional M&P team enabled RMSC to effectively deploy M&P resources, and leverage the talents and abilities of its employees. Cross-training was enhanced, which led to new opportunities and challenges for employees. RMSC also streamlined the M&P Engineering team’s effort by developing a single, company-level practice to govern M&P selection and control. By distributing and sharing the workload, the boundaries between applications engineer and laboratory technician became blurred. As a result, the M&P Engineering team’s productivity improved as well as its turnaround times and customer satisfaction levels. Increased visibility with customers and management enabled employees to pursue new avenues of advancement.

The M&P Engineering team can handle a 20% increase in workload by using a streamlined, multi-functional staff. This approach has been beneficial to RMSC as well as to the employees.

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