NORFOLK, VA – Michelin Aircraft Tire Company reached a historic milestone on Dec. 2, 2008, by delivering the 250,000th aircraft tire to the United States Navy in support of its Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract. The monumental Michelin tire was for the nose landing gear of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet, the nation’s first strike-fighter.
The tire was hand-delivered by Brett Carnes, director of North American military sales and Colleen Cassidy, program manager, both of Michelin Aircraft Tire Company, to Air Wing Commander, Capt. Thomas Halley, of U.S. Naval Air Station-Oceana located in Norfolk, VA. Also in attendance was Sandy Ebenhoech, program analyst with Lockheed Martin.
The U.S. Navy PBL contract was awarded to Michelin in 2001. Michelin selected Lockheed Martin (MS2), located in Moorestown, NJ, as their logistics partner for the PBL program.
"Michelin’s superior products and Lockheed Martin’s supply chain management expertise is a powerful combination," says Carnes. "The Navy’s aircraft need to be ready to launch at a moments notice. Michelin supports that readiness by providing the right tire at the place at the right time around the globe."
The contract requires the Michelin-Lockheed Martin team to deliver aircraft tires anywhere in the continental United States in less than two days and less than four days everywhere else around the world - including deployed aircraft carriers. The team has maintained an on-time delivery rate of over 98 percent with an impressive "zero backorders" record.
"Michelin's performance on the contract has been outstanding," says Capt. Halley. "Getting tires on time has not been an issue for us."
For more information visit www.michelin-us.com.
