Lockheed Martin Australia has selected Melbourne-based advanced castings manufacturer and precision machining specialist AW Bell as the fourth Australian small-to-medium enterprise to participate in its Mentor Protégé Program.
AW Bell executives will undertake an intensive 12-month mentoring program with access to leading Lockheed Martin’s experts from Australia and the United States.
The Mentor Protégé Program aims to accelerate the development of core capabilities within small and medium enterprises, covering best practices in areas such as human resource processes, business ethics, contracting, product management, export controls, quality management systems, supply chain risk management, competitive intelligence, and cybersecurity readiness.
In 2023, AW Bell became the first Australian investment casting foundry for titanium. AW Bell supplies to industries such as aerospace, defence, biomedical, mining and rail, both locally and internationally. The company’s capabilities include investment, sand and prototype casting production, precision machining, engineering, tooling, metallurgical servicing, NDT, inspection, finishing and assembly. By leveraging Lockheed Martin’s extensive expertise, AW Bell will seek a strategic uplift for its Australian customers while also expanding its export opportunities to the United States and elsewhere.
“AW Bell’s selection for the Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program underscores our commitment to fostering the growth and development of innovative Australian SMEs,” said Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand CEO Warren McDonald. “We look forward to sharing our expertise and helping AW Bell enhance its capabilities with a tailored program to best meet the evolving demands of the global defence sector.”
“AW Bell has established a strong reputation as a reliable supplier of precision parts for defence programs, making them a potential partner for a range of both current and future projects,” said Christopher Hess, Head of Industrial Development at Lockheed Martin Australia. “Selection for the Lockheed Martin Mentor Protégé Program highlights AW Bell’s dedication to innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.”
“As a family business, we are thrilled to be selected for the Mentor Protégé Program and to work closely with a global leader like Lockheed Martin to strengthen our commercial acumen,” said AW Bell’s CEO, Sam Bell. “This opportunity will not only elevate our core competencies in line with best practice but also position us for future growth here and in international markets.”
AW Bell’s participation in the MPP will be sponsored by Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation through the Global Supply Chain Program.
