Consolidated Nuclear Security presented the small business of the year award to Master Machine Incorporated during a recent Partners in Excellence supplier outreach event. The Chattanooga-based business focuses on machining, weld fabrication, and engineering services.
MMI has been a supplier to Consolidated Nuclear Security for more than five years, starting with Y-12 National Security Complex and adding the Pantex Plant in 2022.
“Master Machine consistently demonstrates the ability to identify and implement manufacturing methods needed to address complicated projects,” said Rick Hillert, senior director of Supply Chain Management. The company also made $1 million in plant and equipment improvements to address tool needs for CNS, a press release said.
The company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, was nominated by Roger Aigner, subcontract technical representative for Packaging and Transportation Engineering at Y-12. In his nomination, Aigner noted: “They are professional, capable, and a pleasure to work with. They understand the CNS mission and are well deserving of this award.”
“Over the past several years, Master Machine has worked diligently to develop into the supplier we believed CNS needed to support Y-12 and Pantex,” said Joe Sanders of Master Machine. “Some of this effort was facilities and equipment, but most of it was process capabilities and personnel.”
Edwards continued: “Through the process, we have constantly received encouragement and support from the CNS team, ultimately helping our transition to an NQA-1 (Nuclear Quality Assurance) supplier doing everything from build-to-print to design-build. This award is a credit to our supporters at CNS and acknowledgment that we listened well. We are thankful and proud to be part of the mission and team.”
During fiscal year 2023, CNS awarded just more than 60% of subcontracts at Pantex and Y-12 to small businesses, surpassing the company’s goal of 53.5%. This percentage includes those classified as small disadvantaged, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Many news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. This is a free story. Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and subscribers. You can see what we cover here.
Do you appreciate this story or our work in general? If so, please consider a monthly subscription to Oak Ridge Today. See our Subscribe page here. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today!
Alternatively, you can donate to support our work here. Thank you for your support!
Copyright 2024 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leave a Reply