RALEIGH, N.C. - John Deere announced Jan. 31, 2001, that its John Deere Turf Care facility in Raleigh, N.C. has achieved ISO 9000 certification. After an 18-month qualifying process, the facility received its ISO certificate in December 2000 after just one inspection, a rarity among companies who seek certification, according to the company.
ISO 9000 is a voluntary system in framing procedures for manufacturing quality and is administered by the International Organization of Standardization in Geneva, Switzerland. The standards for manufacturing facilities cover multiple elements, from paperwork and tracking systems to parts inventory and the assembly process.
"ISO certification ensures the repeatability of product and process quality with an emphasis on continuous improvement to support genuine value for our stakeholders," said Michael Rebilas, quality manager at the Turf Care facility. "Our 377 employees are dedicated to producing the highest quality products, and we're proud to be included in the ranks of the company's other ISO-certified facilities."
Turf Care officials said they are preparing a project plan to upgrade the current certification to ISO 9000:2000.
John Deere Turf Care has been manufacturing turf and golf equipment since July 1997. The Turf Care line includes front mowers, wide-area mowers, golf course application mowers and utility and compact utility tractor mower decks.
For more information visit the company’s web site at www.johndeere.com.