LYNN – Tim Noonan began working for the General Electric Co. in Lynn in 1963, following completion of military service with the U.S. Air Force.On Jan. 25, during a ceremony at the company’s aviation headquarters in Evendale, Ohio, Noonan was inducted into the GE Propulsion Hall of Fame. It marked the pinnacle of a 38-year career.Armed with technical prowess and leadership qualities, Noonan quickly ascended through the company ranks and was instrumental in the start-up of a new GE satellite plant in Wilmington, NC. He moved to Madisonville, KY, to lead the business’ airfoils plant but eventually returned to Lynn, where he assumed responsibility for all manufacturing and assembly operations in the Northeast.”Tim’s focus on manufacturing fundamentals emphasized operational rigor, productivity and working capital. His passion for leadership development contributed significantly to today’s most productive and profitable GE Aviation facilities,” said Scott Donnelly, chief executive officer and GE aviation president, who presented Noonan with the prestigious achievement medal.Among Noonan’s lasting legacies was his focus on so-called Lean Manufacturing, known in the 1990s as Demand Flow Technology. He championed single-piece flow lines, which drastically reduced engine assembly cycle times and eliminated waste in processes, Donnelly said.”I’m extremely humbled by this honor,” said Noonan. “I was privileged to get hired by a great company, be afforded several opportunities to demonstrate my abilities and grow my career, and work with and get to know tremendous people along the way. I share this recognition with all my Lynn colleagues.”According to Richard Gorham, company spokesman in Lynn, “Noonan built a foundation of operational excellence, productivity and had a passion for leadership development that is alive and well today. He was particularly adept at championing the implementation of state-of-the-art technology into robust and repeatable processes that drove continuous improvements.”These tremendous contributions have advanced GE Aviation’s competitiveness and customer satisfaction across the business’ military and commercial operations, Gorham said.With his induction into the GE Propulsion Hall of Fame, Noonan joins other company luminaries such as the late Gerhard Neumann of Swampscott, often referred to as the father of the jet engine.