Lean Leadership

Leading and implementing change in supply chain management through lean six sigma.

How do you measure the supply base to lower your risk of going to a poor supplier? How does Lockheed Martin identify and fix the poor performing suppliers?

The Materials Acquisition and Management team initiated development and implementation of a Supplier Risk Management process to improve the throughput of quality hardware from its supply base. A Cross-functional Lean team was deployed to look at the supply base and analyze all aspects of supplier Lifecycle Risk Management. The tools that were employed to analyze these key elements were Trend/Causal Analysis, Technical Kickoff (TKO) Tool, Input/Output Diagrams for Materials End-to-End Flow, and Production Process Baselines (PPB). Having this event has helped to identify the problems and open up better communication with the internal and external supply base. As a result of these events during 2006 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has lowered the number of habitual poor performing suppliers by 87% and has identified areas for continues improvements.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is an internationally recognized designer, developer and manufacturer of aerospace and defense systems for the U.S. and allied nations. The company is one of the leading business units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Missiles and Fire Control produces world-class electro-optics, smart munition systems, high performance air and missile defense systems, fire support/deep attack rocket and missile systems, space systems, and advanced product development for a variety of military applications. The company, with more than 70 product lines, 1,500 active contracts and world-class mission success, has expertise in a variety of technology applications including hit-to-kill; kinetic energy technology; system integration; simulation and modeling; automatic target recognition; low observables; fire and forget; electronics packaging; electro-optics; virtual prototyping; guidance and navigation control; unmanned ground vehicles; and lethality/survivability.

Dan FitzPatrick, Director, Supply Chain Mgt / Lean Six Sigma

Dan is currently the Director of Supplier Risk Management and Lean Six Sigma responsible for Materials Acquisition and Management, which has a @2.0B base value per year. He oversees this activity of Materials to >50 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control programs at multiple divisions. Other recent positions include Manager of Southeast Materials Acquisition Center (SEMAC), and manager of Lean/Six-Sigma under the Fire Control Line-of-Business. An extensive LSS background is reflected in his engagement as Lead/Facilitator over 75 Value Stream Maps, Kaizen and Project events which have lead to savings of > $75M. Dan held several key Functional and Production Operations positions: Lockheed Martin 21 Best Practices Corporate Team Leader for “People Engagement”, Operations Metrics Lead for the Enterprise Leadership Council, AM3 (Affordable Multi Missile Manufacturing Operation Manager) Program, JASSM (Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile) Proposal, JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), Production Operations Manager, LANTIRN Proposal, International Offset Program Manager for Lean Six Sigma and Performance Management Teams.

In 1984 he moved to Florida, from Waltham, Massachusetts, where he held a supervision position over several different fabrication areas for the Raytheon Company. He also has past experience with Fairchild Semiconductor and Harris Corporation. He joined Lockheed Martin in 1986 as a Production Control Supervisor in the Microelectronics Center.

Dan has received numerous awards including the Lockheed Martin Global Supply Chain Mgt Leadership Award 2006, Quality Excellence Award for the year 2004, Leadership Excellence Award 2002, and the Award for Performance Excellence (APEX) 2000 and 2004 and.

A 1980 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, he has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and in 1990 received his Masters in Operations Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is also a recent (2006) graduate of George Washington University with a Master in Contract Management. In addition, Dan received his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from the University of Michigan. He also received his Manufacturing Engineering Certification from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). He received his Instructor Certification as a Design for Assembly and Manufacturer from Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc.. Dan is currently a member of; 1)National Contracts Management Association (NCMA), 2) Senior Member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), 3) Member of AME and a past Board of Director.