Litton Achieves Software SEI CMM Level 4 Rating.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 1999--The Guidance and Control Systems Division of Litton Industries Inc. (NYSE:LIT) has been recognized for achieving the Software Capability Maturity of Level 4.

Under the auspices of a Lead Assessor authorized by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of Carnegie-Mellon University, the two-week assessment addressed compliance in 15 key process areas governing software development.

"Achieving an SEI CMM Level 4 rating puts us in a very elite group," said Larry A. Frame, Litton senior vice president and group executive of Litton's Navigation, Guidance & Control Systems Group. "This rating is a clear indication of Litton's commitment to software and quality excellence. That translates to better products and value for our customers," he concluded.

Only three percent of the more than 200 defense and aerospace contractor locations surveyed by SEI trained assessors have reported achieving a Level 4 rating.

The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is a recognized method of evaluating the current state-of-the-practice for a software development organization and is a guide for establishing a process infrastructure for engineering excellence, consistency and continuous improvement.

Representatives from Program Management, Project Engineering, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Software Quality Assurance, the Software Engineering Process Group, the Division Process Organization and Litton senior management participated in the effort.

The Guidance and Control Systems Division has headquarters in Woodland Hills. Litton Industries is a leader in worldwide technology markets for advanced electronic, defense and information systems, and is a major designer and builder of surface combatant ships for the U.S. Navy and allied nations.