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BOC Gases Awarded Prestigious Ford Q1 Certification

19 August 1999

BOC Gases Awarded Prestigious Ford Q1 Certification

    MURRAY HILL, N.J., Aug. 18 -- Ford Motor Company
recently recognized BOC Gases with its prestigious Q1
certification for quality excellence.  Ford's Q1 is based on a supplier's
quality, service and customer satisfaction.  BOC is the only industrial gases
company to have received this certification.
    "Ford's prestigious Q1 quality certification is recognized throughout the
industry as being demanding in its requirements," said Randall Hull, vice
president, general manager, Central region.  "BOC continuously strives for
industry excellence and this certification acknowledges our success in
maintaining the highest-possible levels of service."
    There are three main elements to obtaining Ford's distinguished Q1
certification.  The first key requirement is ISO 9002 certification.  ISO is
an international quality standard that helps organizations define and document
their quality procedures for service.  ISO registration requires a third-party
audit and registration of ISO 9002 compliant quality system.  The second key
requirement is the endorsement of the supplier's top 10 Ford internal
customers.  Lastly, the award is given to a company that has a documented
track record of providing excellent customer service and year over year
cost-savings.  BOC Gases supplies Ford with a broad range of industrial gases,
including liquid nitrogen, argon, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and helium,
as well as compressed specialty, welding and cutting gases.  These products
are used by Ford in a variety of applications ranging from heat treating to
fabrication.
    "BOC has worked very hard to maintain high standards in customer service
and satisfaction," said Laurin Darnell, Ford account manager, BOC Gases.  "The
results of our considerable efforts are in the recognition that the company is
meeting and exceeding Ford's high supplier quality standards."
    Ford Motor Company is the world's second largest automaker, with more than
370,000 employees in 200 markets on six continents.  Its automotive brands
include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo.  Its
automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care, Hertz and
Visteon Automotive Systems.
    BOC Gases is the industrial gases business of The BOC Group, the worldwide
industrial, medical and special gases, vacuum technologies and distribution
services company operating in more than 50 countries with sales last year of
$5.7 billion.  Further information about The BOC Group may be obtained on the
Internet at http://www.boc.com.