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Williams Controls Subsidiary Attains QS-9000 Quality Certification

22 April 1998

Williams Controls Subsidiary Attains QS-9000 Quality Certification

    PORTLAND, Ore., April 22 -- Williams Controls, Inc.
announced that its subsidiary, Williams Controls Industries,
Inc. in Portland, Oregon, has achieved QS-9000 certification, the
manufacturing quality management process for the worldwide truck and
automotive industry.  Williams Controls Industries manufactures sensor and
control systems for the transportation industry and is the largest subsidiary
of Williams Controls.
    This certification is awarded to automotive and truck suppliers that
complete a rigorous operational review to implement a quality process within
their organization that provides for continuous improvement, emphasizing
defect prevention and reducing process variation and waste.  The standard was
developed in 1993 for the Big Three automobile and truck manufacturers.  Any
company that supplies products to the automotive and truck industry must be
QS-9000 certified in order to continue as an approved supplier.
    Williams Controls chairman and CEO Thomas W. Itin stated, "Williams
Controls Industries began this process over one year ago, with a commitment to
manufacturing excellence from everyone in the organization.  This was a
significant element of the effort because every person and every process
within the company was affected.  Being certified as a QS-9000 supplier sets
us apart in the automotive and truck supplier world and demonstrates to our
customers that we are an organization focused on quality through the use of
world-class manufacturing techniques."
    Mr. Itin continued, "The pursuit of QS-9000 has been a major investment of
time and money for our organization, and this commitment to quality management
is one that we are taking throughout the Williams Controls organization.  Last
October, we were QS-9000 certified at our Premier Plastic Technologies
subsidiary, and we have also begun the process of QS-9000 certification at our
Aptek Williams facility in Deerfield Beach, Florida.  We expect to complete it
in early 1999."
    Williams Controls is a leading manufacturer and integrator of innovative
sensors, controls, and communications systems for the transportation,
communication and agricultural industries.  For more information, you can
reach the Company at http://www.wmco.com on the World Wide Web.  This news release
contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company, its current
operations and its future prospects, which involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.
These and other risks relating to the Company's business are set forth in the
Company's most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

SOURCE  Williams Controls, Inc.