RF Monolithics, Inc. Obtains ''ISO/TS 16949:2002'' Automotive Quality Certification and ''ISO 14001'' Environmental Certification
DALLAS--Sept. 22, 2005--RF Monolithics, Inc., (RFM) a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of radio frequency wireless solutions, today announced that it had obtained ISO/TS 16949:2002 Automotive Quality certification and ISO 14001 Certification.ISO/TS 16949:2002 is an International Standards Organization (ISO) Technical Specification, which aligns existing American (QS-9000), German (VDA6.1), French (EAQF) and Italian (AVSQ) automotive quality systems standards within the global automotive industry, with the aim of eliminating the need for multiple certifications to satisfy multiple customer requirements. Together with ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002 specifies the quality system requirements for the design/development, production, installation and servicing of automotive related products. In addition, there are customer specific requirements that are required by individual subscribing vehicle manufacturers.
ISO/TS 16949:2002 was developed by The International Automotive Task Force (IATF), in conjunction with the ISO. The IATF consists of an international group of vehicle manufacturers -- BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Renault and Volkswagen -- plus national trade associations -- AIAG (America), VDA (Germany), SMMT (UK), ANFIA (Italy) and FIEV (France). The Japanese vehicle manufacturers association, JAMA, was also involved in the development of ISO/TS 16949:2002, opening the way for Japanese vehicle manufacturers to join IATF in the future.
The ISO 14001 standard required the implementation of a series of practices and procedures that, when taken together, result in an Environmental Management System (EMS). The major requirements of an EMS under ISO 14001 include:
-- A policy statement which includes commitments to prevention of pollution, continual improvement of the EMS leading to improvements in overall environmental performance, and compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements;
-- Identification of all aspects of the community organization's activities, products, and services that could have a significant impact on the environment, including those that are not regulated;
-- Setting performance objectives and targets for the management system which link back to the three commitments established in the community or organization's policy (i.e. prevention of pollution, continual improvement, and compliance);
-- Implementing the EMS to meet these objectives. This includes activities like training of employees, establishing work instructions and practices, and establishing the actual metrics by which the objectives and targets will be measured;
-- Establishing a program to periodically audit the operation of the EMS;
-- Checking and taking corrective and preventive actions when deviations from the EMS occur, including periodically evaluating the organization's compliance with applicable regulatory requirements; and
-- Undertaking periodic reviews of the EMS by top management to ensure its continuing performance and making adjustments to it, as necessary.
Some of the potential benefits of an EMS based on ISO 14001 include:
-- Improvements in overall environmental performance and compliance;
-- Provide a framework for using pollution prevention practices to meet EMS objectives;
-- Increased efficiency and potential cost savings when managing environmental obligations;
-- Promote predictability and consistency in managing environmental obligations;
-- More effective targeting of scarce environmental management resources; and,
-- Enhance public posture with outside stakeholders.
About RFM
Celebrating over 25 years of low-power wireless solutions, RF Monolithics, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, is a leading designer, developer, manufacturer and supplier of radio frequency wireless solutions enabling wireless connectivity for the automotive, consumer, industrial, medical and communications markets worldwide, allowing our customers to provide products and services that are both cost effective and superior in performance. RFM's wireless solutions are supported by industry leading customer service. For more information on RF Monolithics, Inc., please visit our websites at www.rfm.com and www.wirelessis.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains forward-looking statements, made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements of the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing terms such as "believe," "feel," "expects," "plans," "anticipates" or similar terms are considered to contain uncertainty and are forward-looking statement, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any information contained in this release.