Eurofighter puts suppliers on warning

June 17th, 1999

Eurofighter deputy managing director Luis Muñoz has issued a sharp warning to Eurofighter Typhoon suppliers that they will not survive long if they fail to live up to their promises.

Speaking at the Paris Air Show he said, "Suppliers have a critical role to play. We are demanding that they have to be not just good, but excellent. We must have full commitment to meet our requirement in all aspects. It is clear if there are suppliers that don't cut the mustard, they risk being cut."

As the aircraft enters what the company considers a testing but achievable production schedule the Eurofighter management are determined that their efforts will not be put in jeopardy as a result of mismanagement elsewhere.

Muñoz said that most companies in the programme are committed but he emphasised that that past performance was no guarantee that organisations will be retained if there is any falling off in their standards: "Even if they have been part of the development phase, they will not necessarily be part of the production phase."

Some companies (Muñoz wouldn't say which) have already lost their contracts because they did not live up to their promises and others will find that Eurofighter has already lined up replacements.

Rainer Götting, deputy managing director of Heidelberg, Germany-based Teldix, a Litton Industries subsidiary, which produces a range of equipment for the aircraft, including the attack, navigation and defensive aids computers, believes the Eurofighter's attitude is the sensible one. "This is a partnership. We solve problems together. If we have a significant problem, even if we meet our specification, we will discuss it with our Eurofighter partner company, prior to any situation where it may become a visible problem for Eurofighter," he said

Muñoz adds: "Our message to suppliers is they are a very important part of the programme, we absolutely need them. We want people who, when they see the aircraft flying, are proud to be part of the team."

REF XQQEE XQQAR