U.S. Senators Reed and Whitehouse Applaud R.I. Small Business Banneker Industries for Their Ongoing Contribution to Local Businesses, Economy

North Kingstown, RI, December 01, 2011 --(PR.com)-- U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse made a visit to Quonset Point this month to a site managed and renovated by R.I.-based and woman-owned Banneker Industries, Inc., a leader in supply chain management solutions and a past national recipient of Small Business of the Year honors. Banneker President and CEO Cheryl Snead led the tour of the Quonset site, one of Banneker’s many managed sites throughout the U.S., and a former Naval facility that has been retrofitted with extensive infrastructure enhancements to suit the needs of their clients. One of their long standing success stories is with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), with whom they have a collaborative partnership in managing the supply chain of the Zumwalt Destroyer Program.

Under the contract with Raytheon, Banneker manages the receipt, value-added warehousing, inventory management and just-in-time delivery of a host of components and specialized equipment developed and produced for some of their key programs, including the DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program. Banneker’s Snead described what the program means to Banneker and their key suppliers, most of whom are R.I.-based companies. “The Zumwalt Program and our collaborative partnership with Raytheon and key suppliers is a significant reason to why we’re not only still here 20 years after opening our doors, but growing throughout the Northeast and across the country. Supply chain success is contingent on a group of companies working with each other to bring real value to the customer – and in this case we’re serving the U.S. Navy and the brave warfighters who sacrifice each and every day on our behalf. We take great honor in the work we do.”

Raytheon leadership provided an overall review of the Zumwalt Program and what it means to the United States, the region, the state and the warfighter in the field. "Raytheon has a major role in making this complex, multi-mission ship a reality for the U.S. Navy," said Bill Marcley, Raytheon's Vice President of Total Ship Mission Systems and DDG-1000 Program Manager. "As a key partner on this program, Banneker's supply chain management and support has been instrumental in keeping our high-performing program on-cost and on-schedule as we continue to deliver on our commitments to our customer."

The Senators left with a better understanding of Banneker’s operations, their partnership with Raytheon through the Zumwalt Program, and the importance of supply chain management on the R.I. economy. Senator Reed, Chairman of the U.S. Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, stated, “I am pleased that Banneker Industries and Raytheon are working together to efficiently build world-class ships for the U.S. Navy. This partnership has not only created jobs in Rhode Island and spurred small business activity, but it will also give our sailors the tools they need to keep our nation safe.”

Senator Whitehouse went on to add, “I was glad to have the opportunity to learn about Banneker’s role in managing key components of the Zumwalt Program, and I commend Cheryl Snead for her dedication to hiring returning veterans at Banneker facilities. Small businesses like Banneker are the lifeblood of the Rhode Island economy.”

About Banneker Industries
Banneker Industries is a world-class provider of supply chain management solutions who for over 20 years has specialized in delivering value to their customers through innovative third-party logistics (3PL) services. Headquartered in Rhode Island and with national operations, they offer a wide-range of supply chain services including Procurement, Inspection, Value-Added Warehousing, Complex Kitting, Quality Inspection, Packaging & Fulfillment and Distribution among other solutions. The Company is ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100 certified and incorporates Six Sigma Continuous Improvement methodologies into their processes. Nationally recognized for its superior services, Banneker is consistently named among the leading privately held Third-Party Logistics providers. For more information, visit www.banneker.com.

About Raytheon Company
With sales of $26B, Raytheon is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. Headquartered in Waltham, MA, Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide. Their Integrated Defense Systems division is the leader in Global Capabilities Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

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