Boeing will continue its tradition of helping small businesses by partnering with El Monte, Calif.-based AMRO Fabricating Corporation through NASA's Mentor-Protege Program.

The focus of the three-year agreement is the work the companies are doing for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), the next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle for deep space exploration. Boeing is prime contractor for the SLS core stage and avionics.

It will share lean manufacturing practices with AMRO - which provides aluminum alloy panels for SLS - and help with marketing and business development, management development and supply-chain management.

"Space exploration requires a strong, experienced team, so investing in the next generation of suppliers is not only smart, it's absolutely necessary," said Virginia Barnes, Boeing Space Launch System vice president and program manager.

The NASA Mentor-Protege Program pairs large and small businesses to enhance capabilities and enable them to compete for larger, more complex prime contract and subcontract awards. During 2013, Boeing subcontracted approximately $5 billion to small minority- and woman-owned businesses.

"In the 36 years of AMRO"s history, this Mentor-Protege Program is certainly one of the most valuable partnership opportunities we've engaged in, and we're excited to be part of it," said Aquilina Hutton, AMRO's owner.

AMRO is a certified small, minority, woman-owned manufacturing company, specializing in the manufacturing of lightweight metallic structures for demanding environments on missiles, launch vehicles and spacecraft.