Spartan Motors Introduces New Quality System

20 June 2000
Spartan Motors Introduces New Quality System
           RV Supplier Builds on Best Practices of the Auto & Other
                        Industries to Improve Quality

    CHARLOTTE, Mich., June 20 Spartan Motors
today announced it has developed and instituted a new quality audit designed
to improve the quality of the motorhome body-to-chassis interface process.
    Building on the QS and ISO quality standards of its automotive brethren,
the Charlotte, Mich. manufacturer of custom chassis for RVs, emergency
vehicles and buses has begun implementing Spartan Quality 2000, or SQ2000.
The innovative system, a first-of-its-kind in the RV industry, focuses on
helping original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of motorhomes improve product
quality through monthly audits that determine the best and most efficient ways
to utilize Spartan chassis.
    "SQ2000 tackles one of the most critical issues RV manufacturers and
suppliers face today:  the interface of the motorhome body to the chassis so
that a high-quality platform is created," said John Sztykiel, president and
chief operating officer of Spartan.  "Our new quality management system is a
further step in solidifying long-term partnerships with motorhome OEMs by
helping them improve quality from the chassis on up.
    "Quality issues number among the top complaints of motorhome owners,
causing them to exit the RV lifestyle.  We're certain improvements realized by
the OEMs through SQ2000 will help them reduce warranty costs, improve sales
and make for happier motorhome customers."
    Spartan Motors' engineers, under the guidance of Quality Director David
Markham, have spent the last six months developing SQ2000.  Customer teams
will conduct the on-site monthly audits of the OEMs, recording and pinpointing
methods to improve the overall manufacturing process.
    The teams will provide real-time and electronic documentation of the
audits by using digital cameras, laptop computers and portable printers.  This
type of immediate feedback will allow the OEM to make "just-in-time
improvements" to the manufacturing process based on input and suggestions from
Spartan Motors.  In addition, the use of electronic communication will allow
real-time data to be sent back to Spartan Motors, which will make the
appropriate changes.
    "SQ2000 blends the best elements of ISO and QS standards with other
quality concepts to create a system tailored to the unique needs of the RV
industry," said Markham, who spent 15 years in the automotive arena before
joining Spartan.  "Adopting many of these rigorous quality standards, which
have gained international acceptance in the automotive arena, allows us to
'raise the bar' in the RV industry by establishing uniform quality standards.
    "Spartan Motors continues to work to anticipate -- and then fulfill -- the
needs of our RV customers.  Continuous improvement is a fact of life these
days in any type of manufacturing environment, and we think SQ2000 will help
our customers move toward that goal."
    Markham said that Spartan Motors decided to use monthly rather than yearly
audits because of the "human issues" in manufacturing -- such as job
changeover -- and the need to focus on the issue of continuous improvement.
After an initial trial period, SQ2000 will be modified to incorporate changes
and additions suggested by the OEMs.
    Spartan Motors expects to move toward making the SQ2000 system universally
accepted by the OEMs it works with and plans to apply the standards to its
supplier network.
    "Audits, when they have been done, were only completed on an annual
basis," Markham said.  "In today's fast-moving marketplace, that's not
effective for anyone.  No other chassis manufacturer has attempted such a
program, yet we're convinced SQ2000 is the way it should be done.  Spartan and
SQ2000 have raised the standard for the industry."
    Spartan Motors, Inc. (http://www.spartanmotors.com ) is a leading developer and
manufacturer of custom chassis for fire trucks, recreational vehicles, transit
buses, school buses and other specialty vehicles.  The Company also
manufactures fire and rescue vehicles through its subsidiaries Luverne Fire
Apparatus, Quality Manufacturing and Road Rescue, Inc. and owns a majority
interest in school bus manufacturer, Carpenter Industries, Inc.