MOD Quality Awards 2022

The first-ever international hybrid Ministry of Defence quality awards event was held on 8 November in Bristol. The awards, which reward and recognise those who have delivered significant business benefits and improvements through a quality approach, are sponsored by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI). 

This year, a new category for ‘Supplier Excellence’ was introduced and the event celebrated the inaugural graduation of six MOD quality development scheme candidates.

Led by Quality Assurance Manager, Craig Feltham, and compèred by Defence Quality Assurance Field Force East Regional Team Leader, David Moore, the theme of the event was sustainability, and included presentations from Vincent Desmond, CEO of the CQI, Richard Brett, Deputy Chair of the CQI Audit SIG (Special Interest Group), and Zoi Kontodimou, Chair of the CQI Sustainability SIG, who joined attendees virtually from Greece. 

Additionally, Elaine Adams, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Quality Manager, shared her inspiring story of winning a quality award last year. The audience also heard from the head of the DE&S NetZero50 team as well as the head of Future Capabilities Group who discussed additive manufacturing (3D printing).

Reflecting on the event, Stephen Wilcock (MOD Defence Functional Authority for Technical, Quality and Standardization) said: “I was delighted to see a record number of applications [40] and a record number of winners [28] for the 2022 MOD Quality Awards. The level of accomplishment across all five categories was exceptional and it’s hugely encouraging to see that quality is front and centre across the whole of MOD and the real benefits of ‘Planning for Quality’ in your projects is bearing fruit.”

Vincent Desmond, CQI CEO, commented: “The CQI has had a close association with the UK MOD and the defence sectors since our inception in 1919. We were delighted to support the MOD Quality Awards again this year and celebrate the good work being done in both the civil and military spheres.”

There were a record number of nominations received from the services and defence industries. The 2022 winners included: 

Best Improvement

• Submarine Delivery Agency Central Quality Team
• AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) – Explosives Technology Centre
• AWE – Plutonium Tech Centre, Corrective and Preventive Actions & Cultural change
• AWE – High Energy Digital Radiography team
• Les Gibbons – Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
• Collective Training Group – Warminster Road
• Flt Lt David Robinson – Centre of Air Safety Training, Shrivenham
• Neil Morley – AWE

Rising Star

• Sgt Kate Snelgrove, RAF (Royal Air Force) Odiham
• Jamie Manders, AWE
• Claire Brown, BAE Systems (British Aerospace), Samlesbury

Quality Ambassador

• Margo Ramsey, RAF Odiham
• Louise Ingman, AWE
• RAF Brize Norton Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation Quality Team
• Andrew Marland, BAE Systems, Warton
• Flt Sgt Mark Rowley, RAF Waddington
• WO Craig Gifford-Browne, RAF High Wycombe
• Frank Woodcock, RAF Linton on Ouse

Inspiring Leadership

• Christine Heath – AWE
• Mel Rechert – AWE
• Nigel Williams – Defence Nuclear Organisation Warhead Division
• Wing Commander Stephen Rowley, RAF High Wycombe
• Sarah Timothy, DE&S
• Joe Evans, DE&S 
• Stacey Hutton, RAF Coningsby

Supplier Excellence

• Bronze – Project Orpheus Team, Rolls-Royce Bristol/DSTL Portsdown
• Silver – Kish Chandarana, MBDA