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Loctite North America Earns ISO 9000 and QS-9000 Ratings

13 March 1998

Loctite North America Earns ISO 9000 and QS-9000 Ratings

    ROCKY HILL, Conn., March 13 -- Loctite North America has
become one of the first chemical companies to receive both ISO 9000
and QS-9000 certifications, Steve Merkel, president of Loctite North America,
has announced.
    The ratings cover production and distribution facilities in Cleveland and
Solon, Ohio; Kansas City; Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico; and North American
headquarters and research, development and engineering facilities in Rocky
Hill, Conn.
    Each certification was conferred after Loctite demonstrated development,
documentation and implementation of quality assurance processes and uniform
standards in design, engineering, manufacturing, quality control, customer
service, training, and purchasing operations.
    QS-9000, the Big Three auto companies' quality seal of approval, is much
more specific and prescriptive than ISO 9001 standards.  There are more than
100 additional requirements and most focus on product quality.
    "Attaining ISO and QS-9000 ratings has been a rigorous but beneficial
discipline," Merkel said.  "Along the way we have instituted continuous
quality improvement systems that directly benefit customers while reducing
internal costs.  In customer service, for example, we streamlined contract
review procedures, resulting in far more efficient and responsive order entry
and pricing systems."
    Loctite is among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of
chemically based adhesives, sealants and coatings.  Sales in 1996 were $800
million, including $100 million to the automotive sector.

SOURCE  Loctite Corporation