GULFSTREAM SUPPLIER CONFERENCE RECOGNIZES BEST SMALL BUSINESSES
Business-jet Manufacturer Purchased $252 Million in Goods and Services
from U.S. Small Businesses In 2006
SAVANNAH , Ga. , April 24, 2007 – At the 9th Annual Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Supplier Conference, held recently in Savannah , the business-jet manufacturer recognized the following four small businesses for their outstanding performance as suppliers to the company during the 2006 calendar year:
2006 Minority Small Business of the Year
Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire, of Savannah, is a non-profit agency that provides people with disabilities the opportunity to lead productive and independent lives. Goodwill creates and assembles more than 200 different insulation blankets for Gulfstream.
2006 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
Sey Tec, of Hurst, Texas, is a fastener and hardware distributor for the aviation and military industries. Sey Tec provides Gulfstream with a variety of fixtures and hardware.
2006 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year
Click Bond, Inc. , of Carson City, Nev., provides innovative structural assembly solutions for aerospace, transportation, naval and industrial markets. Click Bond provides Gulfstream with a variety of adhesive-bonded fasteners used in the initial and final phases of aircraft production.
2006 Small Business of the Year
Custom Metal Works, of Rincon, Ga., provides Gulfstream with non-structural interior sheet metal detail parts and sub-assemblies used in the final phase of production.
“In 2006, our small businesses improved delivery performance and maintained competitive pricing with their innovativeness and quick response to our challenging production demands,” said Jim McQueeney, vice president, material, Gulfstream.
In 2006, Gulfstream spent $252 million on goods and services provided by small businesses, or 32 percent of its domestic expenditures of $781 million.
Gulfstream purchases a variety of products from small businesses, including machined parts, maintenance repair overhaul items, adhesives/sealants, electronic components and raw materials. In addition, Gulfstream receives numerous services from small businesses, including cabinetry assembly, plastic fabrication, construction, engineering, nondestructive testing, employment, plating, coating, equipment leasing and printing.
In selecting new suppliers, Gulfstream provides opportunities to Small, Women-Owned, Disadvantaged, Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran, and Historically Underutilized Business Zone businesses. For these and other suppliers, Gulfstream provides assistance through technical support, quality assurance, engineering, networking contacts/referrals, and by purchasing equipment and raw materials.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced some 1,600 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 ®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200 ®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350 ®; the large-cabin, long-range G450 ®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500 ® and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 ®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales ®. The company employs more than 7,900 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics , headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 81,000 people worldwide and had 2006 revenues of $24.1 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.