Advanced manufacturer AW Bell has graduated from Lockheed Martin Australia’s Mentor Protégé Program, gaining new capability and international supply chain connections.
AW Bell has officially completed Lockheed Martin Australia’s Mentor Protégé Program, a 12-month initiative aimed at strengthening the capability of Australian defence industry SMEs.
The advanced manufacturing and precision casting specialist was guided through workshops, on-site reviews and coaching sessions covering environmental, social and governance practices, supply chain strategy, business development, procurement engineering and cost management.
Toni Marzulli, vice president operations at Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, said the program was designed to build world-class industrial capability within Australia’s defence ecosystem.
“As a key part of Australia’s industrial future, the MPP brings world class expertise to SMEs that are pivotal to our defence ecosystem,” Ms Marzulli said.
“AW Bell’s successful completion of the MPP demonstrates the company’s dedication to delivering a world-class advanced manufacturing capability in defence and aerospace.”
Lockheed Martin experts from Australia and the United States worked with AW Bell throughout the year to align the company’s processes with global defence supply chain requirements.
Sam Bell, chief executive of AW Bell, said the experience had strengthened the company’s understanding of major defence prime contractors and improved its readiness to support future programs.
“We have been truly privileged to be part of this Mentor Protégé Program,” Mr Bell said.
“Through this program we have gained invaluable insight into how Lockheed Martin operate, what they need and where they are headed – placing us in a far stronger position to support them in the years ahead.”
Mr Bell said the mentoring relationships were one of the most valuable outcomes of the program.
“The mentors who guided us were exceptional, giving their time and encouragement freely, and leaving us with a network of contacts within Lockheed Martin we know we can genuinely lean on – something we did not expect but are deeply grateful for,” he said.
Christopher Hess, head of industrial development at Lockheed Martin Australia, said the program played a key role in strengthening sovereign defence capability.
“The Mentor Protégé Program is a flagship initiative that underpins Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities,” Mr Hess said.
“AW Bell’s completion reinforces our commitment to nurturing domestic SMEs, ensuring they are equipped to compete for prime and subcontractor roles in both local and global supply chains.”
The program was originally launched in the United States in 1990 and later adapted for Australia to support defence procurement resilience. AW Bell joins Clearbox Systems, Silentium Defence and Inovor Technologies as graduates of the Australian program.
AW Bell’s participation was sponsored through Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation and its Global Supply Chain Program.
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