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W.A. Thomas Company Receives QS 9000 Certification

19 May 1998

W.A. Thomas Company Receives QS 9000 Certification

    ROMULUS, Mich., May 19 -- The W.A. Thomas Company, an
operating unit of Nelms Technologies, today announced that it has received
third-party certification to the prestigious Quality System Requirements
(QS 9000) quality system standard.  The announcement was made by Ed Nelms,
chairman and chief executive officer, Nelms Technologies.  W.A. Thomas
manufactures wrist pins, transmission valves, quick connect fasteners, relief
valves and sector shafts for the automotive industry.
    QS 9000 is based on the 1994 edition of ISO 9001, but contains additional
requirements that are particular to the automotive industry.  It is the common
automotive supplier quality standard for Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor
Company and General Motors Corporation.
    Three W.A. Thomas facilities located in Romulus and Chelsea, Mich., and
Lacey's Spring, Ala. qualified for the QS 9000 registration.  Evaluations were
based on the overall organization, management, manufacturing, engineering,
purchasing, and product process control.  The company's corporate headquarters
in Romulus is also home to research and development labs, packaging and a
distribution center.  Its Chelsea and Lacey's Spring facilities are
manufacturing centers.
    QS 9000 signifies that W.A. Thomas meets strict quality system
requirements for design and manufacturing as defined by the U.S. automakers
and heavy truck industry.
    "The QS 9000 standard represents the common denominator of quality in
today's business world," said Nelms.  "We are extremely proud of this
achievement, and of our employees, who have proven that at W.A. Thomas,
quality truly is a priority.  Our people and their work stood up to exhaustive
and comprehensive independent audits and tests, and I am proud of each of
them," added Nelms.