Case Study: ATK Alliant Tech System
Southern Composite Center

Interview with Dr. Doyle Sisson, Business Development Manager & Darla Taylor, Human Resources Manager

ATK is a $2.2 billion aerospace and defense company with manufacturing and development capabilities in propulsion, composite structures, munitions, precision capabilities, and civil and sporting ammunition.

The company, which is headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, employs approximately 12,000 people and has three business groups: Aerospace, Precision Systems, and Ammunition and Related Products. In 1990, ATK became an independent company when Honeywell spun off its defense businesses, which had supplied defense products to the U.S. and its allies for 50 years. Since then, the company has grown to become a major aerospace and defense contractor through a combination of internal growth and a series of key strategic acquisitions.

• In the area of aerospace, ATK is a leader in the design, development, and production of solid propulsion systems for commercial and government space launch vehicles, strategic missiles, and missile defense interceptors, and high-performance composite structures for space launch vehicles, military and commercial aircraft, satellites, and spacecraft.
  
• ATK’s Precision Systems division manufactures gun-launched precision-guided munitions, fuses, and proximity sensors; electronic warfare systems; soldier systems; tactical barrier systems; rocket motors, warheads, seekers, and guidance systems for tactical missiles; propulsion for missile defense systems, orbit insertion, and interplanetary exploration; advanced control systems; composite structures for aircraft and weapons systems; tank ammunition; medium-caliber gun systems; and high-performance batteries.
  
• Its Ammunition and related products division is a leading supplier of small- and medium- caliber military ammunition, ammunition propellant, commercial and military smokeless powder, law enforcement and sporting ammunition, and ammunition-related products. It operates two U.S. Army ammunition manufacturing plants

The Iuka, Mississippi location is part of the aerospace division for ATK Alliant Tech Systems and is a subsidiary of the composite centers in Clearfield, Utah. ATK Composites is the largest producer of filament-wound and fiber-placed structures in the U.S. ATK has revolutionized the composites industry through 40 years of innovation and manufacturing excellence. The company produces structures and materials for space launch vehicles, commercial and military aircraft, and missile defense systems.

Dr. Doyle Sisson, Business Development Manager for ATK, said the products produced at the northeast Mississippi facility supply the commercial aerospace industry with technologically advanced composite launch vehicles. These vehicles are designed and built to support the launch market with weather, telecommunication, and military satellites. ATK has a 320,000 square foot facility designed to accommodate oversized structures and features autoclaves with 17-foot to 20-feet diameters and up to 83 feet in length.

" The facility is strategically located on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Iuka, Mississippi, which provides excellent transport capabilities of large composite structures," he said.

Dr. Sisson pointed to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway as one of the primary reasons for locating in Mississippi. The company transports its products via a dock that it has on site. Products are transported to Decatur, where they are assembled. Without that transportation ability by water, it would be very costly for the company to transport via the highways. The sizes of its loads are wide and tall, so transporting its products via the highways would present numerous logistical problems. Dr. Sisson said all future projects would be transported by water.

Sisson also underscored the quality of Mississippi’s workforce as being key to ATK’s decision to locate in the magnolia state. He said the state's involvement in providing training courses and technical expertise helped to meet the company's training needs. In addition, the company is producing an interactive CD with the assistance of the State and Mississippi State University. Alliant Tech utilized a two-year college in Booneville, as well as other two-year programs in Mississippi, to better prepare the local labor pool for hi-tech work. The southern composite center employs about 38 engineers from various disciplines, who have received degrees from various universities.

Dr. Sisson said that the skilled labor at Alliant Tech is primarily his company's design. The two-year college in Booneville provided the transition of that technical ability. From an engineering perspective, it is relatively new also. There are very few universities, Mississippi State is one of them, that provide insight from an engineering group. It is still relatively young in the academic arena.

Sisson said Mississippi officials were eager to work with Alliant Tech during its site selection process and offered a number of incentives. He said Alliant Tech received tax incentives when the company first committed to Mississippi. These incentives were very beneficial in assisting the company and getting its operation going.

" Tax incentives and the ability to transport our products along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway have been the key elements behind our success so far. Had those elements not been at hand, I doubt very seriously that we would be here," he said.

He said programs and initiatives, such as the Advantage Mississippi initiative, helped company leaders determine that Mississippi was serious about attracting and keeping quality industry. “Advantage Mississippi has greatly affected our company in a very positive manner,” Sisson said.

Darla Taylor, Human Resources Manager, said Mississippi’s quality of life offerings assist ATK not only in attracting employees, but keeping them in the state. “The company's employees love the area, and many are committed to staying at the company for that reason,” she said. “The quality of life aspect directly impacts Alliant Tech's commitment to remain in Mississippi.”

Sisson said the company is currently reviewing options for expanding its operations in Mississippi. He said the willingness of state officials to provide incentives and the transportation benefits have compelled company officials to strongly consider Mississippi, once again.

" From a strategic standpoint, Alliant Tech's business position in Mississippi has been greatly enhanced by the transportation capabilities along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and by the state support we have and will continue to receive.”