Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace firm, has named Australia’s national science agency CSIRO as Supplier of the Year for the fifth time since 2010.
Boeing’s Supplier of the Year Award program is an industry-leading recognition program that highlights the achievements of the company’s top-performing suppliers. CSIRO was previously named a Boeing Supplier of the Year in 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2010.
The ‘Pathfinder Award’ honours the significant value that CSIRO has brought to Boeing through technological innovations in the fields of space, advanced materials, data analytics, energy, manufacturing, robotics, and autonomy.
CSIRO, which has a 34-year partnership with the aerospace company, said it worked with Boeing to create novel lightweight and sustainable materials for aircraft as well as potential space uses.
Additionally, the companies have put more than $200 million into a variety of projects to expand manufacturing techniques, boost security, cut down on waste, and promote environmental sustainability in aviation.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive Boeing’s Supplier of the Year award,” Kirsten Rose, acting CSIRO chief executive said while also congratulating all scientists and engineers who push the boundaries and make a difference throughout the world.
She added, “We look forward to continuing to grow CSIRO and Australia’s global profile as a research and development leader driving innovation across manufacturing, space, technology and sustainability.”
The 34-year strategic partnership, according to Rose, shows the value CSIRO can provide to the business world through cooperation, science, and innovation.
Maria Fernandez, president of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific, said that through innovation and investment right here in Australia, Boeing and CSIRO continue to address challenges of critical relevance to the global aerospace sector.
William Ampofo, vice president of Parts & Distribution Services and Supply Chain for Boeing Global Services and chair of Boeing’s Supply Chain Operations Council, described the awardees as “proactive, transparent and reliable in a challenging environment.”
“Over the past year, their commitment to safety and quality was the gold standard to help us achieve operational excellence and predictably deliver for our customers,” Ampofo noted.
CSIRO and Boeing jointly issued the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap earlier this month, charting a route for the aviation industry’s decarbonisation.
