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National-Standard Announces QS-9000 Registrations

15 April 1998

National-Standard Announces QS-9000 Registrations

    NILES, Mich., April 15 -- Continuing to fulfill its
commitment to delivering quality products and services, National-Standard
Company is proud to announce the registration of two additional
Company facilities to QS-9000/IS09002.  Both of the Company's United States
wire drawing facilities, Stillwater, Oklahoma and Niles, Michigan, recently
achieved registration.  The two sites join the previously registered
locations: Corporate facilities in Niles, MI, the air bag filtration
manufacturing operations in Mesa, AZ, and the wire products manufacturing
operations in Kidderminster, UK.  Four additional National-Standard operations
in North America are currently scheduled for QS-9000 registration audits to be
completed by June 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.
    "I am delighted that our U.S. wire plants have achieved their QS-9000
designation," said Michael B. Savitske, President & Chief Executive Officer.
"While the cost of achieving these registrations has been greater than had
been expected, I believe the benefits of higher quality products will far
outweigh the expense of registration.  The QS-9000 system provides the basis
for our economic profit improvement initiatives."
    Founded in 1907, National-Standard is a Niles, Michigan based firm with
annual sales of approximately $250 million.  In ten 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 Company