CNS honors Master Machine, Inc. as small business of the year

Chattanooga-based business serves Y-12, Pantex

Master Machine, Inc. was recently honored by Consolidated Nuclear Security as small business of the year. From left to right, Greta Ownby, Y-12 Small Business program manager; Roger Aigner, subcontract technical representative for Packaging and Transportation Engineering; Joe Edwards, Blake Nichols, Gary Boles, Warren Brandon, and Mark Maybee, Master Machine; and Rick Hillert, CNS senior director of Supply Chain Management.

Oak Ridge, Tenn.— Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) presented the small business of the year award to Master Machine, Inc. (MMI) during a recent Partners in Excellence supplier outreach event. The Chattanooga-based business focuses on machining, weld fabrication, and engineering services.

MMI has been a supplier to Consolidated Nuclear Security for more than five years, starting with Y-12 National Security Complex and adding the Pantex Plant in 2022.

“Master Machine consistently demonstrates the ability to identify and implement manufacturing methods needed to address complicated projects,” said Rick Hillert, senior director of Supply Chain Management. The company also made $1 million in plant and equipment improvements to address tool needs for CNS.

The company, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, was nominated by Roger Aigner, subcontract technical representative for Packaging and Transportation Engineering at Y-12. In his nomination, Aigner noted, “They are professional, capable, and a pleasure to work with. They understand the CNS mission and are well deserving of this award.”

“Over the past several years, Master Machine has worked diligently to develop into the supplier we believed CNS needed to support Y-12 and Pantex,” said Joe Sanders of Master Machine. “Some of this effort was facilities and equipment, but most of it was process capabilities and personnel.”

Edwards continued, “Through the process, we have constantly received encouragement and support from the CNS team, ultimately helping our transition to an NQA-1 (Nuclear Quality Assurance) supplier doing everything from build-to-print to design-build. This award is a credit to our supporters at CNS and acknowledgment that we listened well. We are thankful and proud to be part of the mission and team.”

During fiscal year 2023, CNS awarded just more than 60% of subcontracts at Pantex and Y-12 to small businesses, surpassing the company’s goal of 53.5%. This percentage includes those classified as small disadvantaged, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@pxy12.doe.gov