SwRI's Mechanical Sciences Section Achieves ISO 9001:2000 Certification

SAN ANTONIO--July 30, 2004--The Mechanical Sciences Section at Southwest Research Institute(R) (SwRI(R)) has earned ISO 9001:2000 certification. ISO 9001:2000 is a set of international standards used to provide guidance in the development and implementation of an effective quality management system for the development of products.

The section is certified as a "provider of independent mechanical systems and component design, analysis and environmental testing services for industry and government."

The Mechanical Sciences Section, part of SwRI's Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division, provides services in mechanical design and analysis, structural dynamics and acoustics research and development, environmental testing, including seismic, vibration, salt/fog and humidity testing, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing for a wide range of industries as well as government and military clients. The section also leads SwRI's NEBS (Network Equipment-Building Systems) program for the telecommunications industry.

"We now have in place a quality management system for all aspects of our business including design, analysis, testing and documentation," said Section Manager Timothy A. Fey. "Formal quality programs are now required by most industries and government agencies, and our client base directed us toward ISO 9001:2000 certification. While the process to achieve ISO certification was quite involved, it also gave us the opportunity to address client satisfaction and standardize certain aspects of our business. We can now offer our clients a more efficient, more consistent and more successful program."

Perry Johnson Registrars Inc., Southfield, Mich., audited the section on March 30, 2004, and issued the certification on June 9, 2004.

For more information about the Mechanical Sciences Section and its services, contact Fey at 210-522-3253 or timothy.fey@swri.org.

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, with more than 2,800 employees and an annual research volume of more than $355 million.