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National-Standard Announces QS-9000 Registrations

19 January 1998

National-Standard Announces QS-9000 Registrations

    NILES, Mich., Jan. 19 -- Continuing to fulfill its commitment
to delivering quality products and services, National-Standard Company
is proud to announce the registration of three Company facilities
to QS-9000/ ISO9002.  Included in this registration are Corporate facilities
in Niles, MI, air bag filtration manufacturing operations in Mesa, AZ, and
wire products manufacturing operations in Kidderminster, UK.  The registration
of Corporate facilities is significant as it confirms the acceptability of the
Company's quality system across all North American operations.  Six additional
National-Standard operations in North America are currently scheduled for QS-
9000 registration audits to be completed by May of 1998.
    QS-9000 is a quality system standard established by the automotive Big 3
based on international quality standard ISO 9000.  Registration to this
standard comes as the result of system implementation consistent with QS-9000
and subsequent audit assessments by independent quality audit companies.
National-Standard's independent QS-9000 North American Registrar is KPMG QR
located in Short Hills, NJ.
    "QS-9000 is a key element of our strategy to deliver value to our
customers and shareholders," said Michael B. Savitske, President and Chief
Executive Officer.  "It will not only assist us in providing improved product
quality and consistency, but will also serve as the basis for our economic
profit improvement initiatives.  We are pleased that we continue to maintain
our leadership position by becoming the first North American manufacturer in
our markets to achieve this distinction."
    Founded in 1907, National-Standard is a Niles, Michigan based firm with
annual sales of approximately $250 million.  In nine operating facilities
throughout the world, the Company manufactures and distributes a broad
range of wire and wire-related products, including tire bead wire and
welding wire, in addition to wire cloth and fabricated filters for the
automotive air bag industry.

SOURCE  National-Standard