Overwatch Systems Is Now SEI CMMI® Level 5
AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2007 -- Overwatch Systems Tactical Operations (Overwatch), an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is pleased to announce that Overwatch is a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)(a) Level 5 assessed organization. Overwatch's commitment to providing the best possible product to the warfighter is long standing, and this achievement is yet another step toward ensuring that reputation is continually upheld.
As one of the fastest growing small businesses in the Austin area over the last several years, Overwatch embraced the added responsibility that this continuing growth demanded. Overwatch is a subcontractor on the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems program, the service's premier modernization program. In order to properly guarantee the highest quality work to support the Army's investment, contractors holding subcontracts valued above $100 million must be certified at CMMI Level 3 or above. Achieving CMMI Level 5 is a significant milestone for Overwatch, reaffirming its total commitment to customer success, exceeding our customers' expectations, and enhancing our collective performance at an organizational level.
The assessed recognition of improved process between Levels 3 and 5 typically takes a dedicated company 36 months to accomplish. Overwatch’s drive and customer commitment has lead to achieving this milestone in just two short years after receiving CMMI Level 3 in 2005. Overwatch is providing greater assurance that our growth will not impair the exceedingly high quality that our customers have grown to trust. This in turn means that our customers benefit as we continue to learn, evolve, and instill practices that result in greater efficiencies going forward. This results in a higher probability of completing projects on time and within budget. Of the 1,377 organizations that were evaluated from 2002 to mid-2006 only 250 were appraised at Level 5, which is about 18% of the total.
The CMMI Maturity Level appraisal took place during an exceptionally demanding period of development, when one of the largest projects currently underway was nearing a release. While the assessment team was actively interviewing key members throughout the organization, Overwatch Systems' Combat Systems development team was preparing for delivery of the Situation Understanding Spin Out 1 software code for the Future Combat Systems program. Despite the added demand of this assessment, solid planning resulted in an on-time delivery of that software on 15 May, 2007.
The assessment was led by Jay Pickerill, Team Lead from Delivery Excellence of the Software Engineering Institute authorized to conduct SCAMPI appraisals and Karl Williams, Evaluation Consultant from PTFQI. The Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) CMMI ratings are awarded after an exhaustive independent evaluation determines if an organization's engineering, development and management processes conform to the CMMI model. The model links management and systems engineering best practices to business objectives and provides a framework that enables organizations to continue to optimize performance in management, development and delivery. The evaluation process team also included seven Overwatch employees -- Collectively, they interviewed 41 individual employees, reviewed over 1,000 engineering and program documents, and scored Overwatch practices in the 425 specific areas associated with the 5 CMMI levels -- in all expending over 800 hours of intensive effort.
"Overwatch Systems Tactical Operations is excited about this recognition and is dedicated to continue to provide high quality solutions to the warfighter," says Janis Livingston, Quality Assurance Director.
(a) The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and operated by Carnegie Mellon University. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and SCAMPI are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office owned by Carnegie Mellon University.
About Overwatch
Overwatch Systems Limited ("Overwatch"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron, Inc. and an operating unit of Textron Systems, provides a suite of integrated software tools that is dedicated to the analysis, design, development, and support of complex intelligence, information, and communications systems. A leader in software C4ISR systems that use industry standards to provide intelligence products that are lightweight, portable, scalable, and interoperable for the warfighter, first responder and counter terrorism analysts. Overwatch has obtained CMMI® Level 5 rating and AS9100, ISO9001-2000 certifications. Overwatch Tactical Operations is committed to the Warfighter! To schedule a demo, eMail info@overwatch.com. More information is available at www.overwatch.com.
About Textron Systems
Textron Systems Corporation ("Textron Systems") provides innovative technology solutions to meet the needs of the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities. The company is known for its precision smart weapons, surveillance systems, complex intelligence and communications systems, aircraft control systems, piston engines, specialty marine craft and armored vehicles. Textron Systems is a whollyowned subsidiary of Avco Corporation. Avco Corporation is wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.
About Textron
Textron Inc. is an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, 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, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.