Sonja Alexander April 22, 1999

Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-1761)

RELEASE: 99-53

FOUR AEROSPACE FIRMS WIN NASA'S HIGHEST HONOR FOR QUALITY

Four U.S. companies committed to innovative management,

quality and customer service have received NASA's George M. Low
Award, the Agency's highest honor for quality and technical
performance and the nation's oldest award for organizational
quality.

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin presented the 1999 Low

Award today at the 14th Annual NASA Continual Improvement and
Reinvention Conference on Quality Management in Alexandria, VA.

"These companies demonstrate outstanding management and

customer service that have proven profitable to NASA and the
nation's industries, " said Goldin.

Barrios Technology, Inc., Houston, TX, received the award for

small-business product, and Kay and Associates, Edwards, CA,
picked up the award for small-business service. Raytheon Support
Services Company, Annapolis Junction, MD, was this year's winner
in the large-business service category, and Thiokol Space
Operations, Brigham City, UT, took the award for large-business
product.

Each recipient was evaluated according to seven criteria.

These criteria included not only performance, cost and schedule,
but also innovation, management leadership, alignment of
organizational goals with NASA's strategic plans, customer
orientation and adherence to the Total Quality Management
philosophy.

"The purpose of the George M. Low Award Program is not simply

to give an award," said Fred Gregory, Associate Administrator for
Safety and Mission Assurance, "but to encourage our contractors to
implement quality principles. When quality principles are
seriously implemented, it not only helps NASA, but also
substantially improves the company's bottom line.
 Barrios Technology is a small female-owned business providing
information technology, space operations, expertise, and training
to the aerospace industry. Thecompany has averaged 96 percent
award fees on all its prime contracts, demonstrated outstanding
schedule performance at a cost less than the maximum allowable
under the contract.

Kay and Associates is a family-owned contract engineering

firm that provides specialized engineering, logistical and
technical services at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center,
Edwards, CA. By purchasing and modifying used equipment and
refurbishing on-site equipment, Kay and Associates provided about
$800,000 savings to NASA.

Raytheon Support Services Company provides logistics support,

warehousing, and distribution of equipment and material at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. Raytheon has achieved
a 2 percent cost savings in the contract over the past three
years. The company has achieved an 87.5 percent inventory
reduction while maintaining a near 100 percent inventory accuracy.

Thiokol Corporation is the NASA contractor responsible for

the manufacture, launch support, and refurbishment of the reusable
solid rocket motor for the Space Shuttle. For seven years,
Thiokol Corporation has maintained 100 percent on-time delivery of
hardware. Thiokol's cost reduction efforts have resulted in $152
million in savings for the Agency.

In addition to highlighting Low award recipients, the

Continual Improvement and Reinvention Conference is a forum to
share best practices and lessons learned from quality management
initiatives.

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