Lycoming’s Ian Walsh to Keynote 2008 Western Region Shingo Prize Conference

September 03, 2008
General Manager and Textron Six Sigma Black Belt to Share Lycoming’s Impressive Transformation

Wilmington, MA - September 3, 2008 - Lycoming Engines, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that its Senior Vice President and General Manager Ian Walsh will keynote the 2008 Western Region Shingo Prize Conference being held September 8 to 10, 2008 in Bellevue, Washington. For 20 years the Shingo Prize has been synonymous with premier Lean manufacturing practices, recognizing world-class manufacturers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Western Region Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence invited Walsh, a Textron Six Sigma Black Belt, to share Lycoming’s four-year lean transformation with lean practitioners attending the conference from various industries around the world. Walsh’s presentation, titled “The Principle of Premier: Turning a Company from the Brink of Collapse to World-Class,” will outline how Lycoming significantly improved first pass yield, increased on-time delivery, and improved return on invested capital.

Lycoming’s transformation, now a benchmark within Textron, exemplifies the importance of employee engagement, including the setting of mutually beneficial objectives in a union plant; the critical role of leadership at all levels; the implementation of Lean tools and methods; the need for a sustained commitment to Lean transformation; and the benefit of being a part of Textron’s networked enterprise of businesses and powerful brands. Lycoming, in its unwavering focus to be the premier aviation engine company recognized for its products, innovation and customer service, powers more than half of the world’s general aviation fleet today.

“The key to our success has been our focus on people, process and performance. We have brought to together best practices from across Textron and created some of our own. We have also worked hard to create strong leadership and alignment, and motivate every employee. Through the efforts and dedication of every single Lycoming employee, we have transformed our operations as a result and turned our business around, benefiting our employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and community,” said Walsh. “Our performance and pursuit of the Shingo Prize this year exemplifies what can be achieved when we focus on continuous improvement. I am proud of our team and to be a part of Lycoming’s impressive transformation.”

About Lycoming
Lycoming Engines specializes in Engineering, Manufacture, Service and Support of piston aircraft engines. Headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lycoming piston engines power more than half of the world's general aviation fleet - both rotary-wing and fixed-wing. Lycoming Engines is a division of Avco Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.lycoming.com.

About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Connect with Textron IR

David Rosenberg, Vice President, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288
Kyle Williams, Manager, Investor Relations
(401) 457-2288

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