Representatives from 80 small disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses who want to expand their business with McDonnell Douglas are expected to attend the company's eighth annual fair. These high performing suppliers to McDonnell Douglas represent the best in their respective field of avionics, hydraulics and mechanics, major structures, and manufacturing.

Among the high-tech companies to be on hand are 12 St. Louis-area small businesses. The companies are:

The fair gives the companies an opportunity to exhibit their products and services to McDonnell Douglas procurement and engineering personnel who represent the aircraft, helicopter, space and electronics segments of McDonnell Douglas. Companies attending last year's fair were awarded $33 million from McDonnell Douglas between March 1996 and March 1997.

Besides McDonnell Douglas, several other large corporations in the St. Louis area are expected to visit with the exhibiting small businesses to explore potential subcontracting opportunities.

McDonnell Douglas, a recognized leader in industry for acquisition reform, is aggressively working to use the same cost-saving initiatives with its supplier community. The overall theme of this year's fair is improving performance and how McDonnell Douglas can help its suppliers to achieve greater quality and lower cost through reforms in business and manufacturing processes.