Mexico Presents Plantronics Manufacturing Facility with Nation’s Highest Quality Award
President Vicente Fox Honors PLAMEX for Excellence in Total Quality Management
SANTA CRUZ, CA. - December 9, 2004 – Plantronics has won Mexico’s prestigious National Quality Award 2004, the equivalent to the United States’ Malcolm Baldrige Award, for its Plantronics Mexico (PLAMEX) plant. The National Quality Award is for achievements in quality and business performance. One of the largest manufacturing companies in Baja California, PLAMEX continually strives to enhance its comprehensive total quality management (TQM) program, recognizing that it engenders best business practices and competitive advantage.
During the rigorous evaluation process, which begins in early spring, companies are judged on eight key elements: customer satisfaction, leadership, organizational planning, information and analysis, personnel development, process administration, social responsibility, and results. The process includes extensive written submissions as well as an on-site assessment by a team of expert evaluators.
President Vicente Fox presented the award for the “Large Industry” category to PLAMEX executives and associates during a ceremony today at Los Pinos, the presidential residence in Mexico City, Mexico.
“Plantronics Mexico is proud to receive the National Quality Award on behalf of its associates, who have joined together to create and nurture a culture of excellence and empowerment,” said Alejandro Bustamante, president of PLAMEX. “The award is really a recognition of the people behind the products and the many ways that our company strives to best serve our customers, stockholders and the community.”
PLAMEX associates are trained to prevent problems by proposing solutions to any potential risks they identify. Everyone contributes to quality processes to increase customer satisfaction, minimize rework, reduce cost, maintain production output and uphold product excellence. Many associates have been working at Plamex for decades, thanks to the facility’s variety of benefits, including career development, family programs, child care, educational programs, medical care and housing assistance. PLAMEX’s 3,600 associates contribute to Plantronics’ worldwide success by manufacturing more than 5,000 different models of headset products.
The facility is ISO 9002-2000 certified and has received numerous awards and commendations for its excellence in environmental matters, community work, customer satisfaction and work safety. Previous awards include the Federal Ministry of Labor’s Safe Industry Certificate, Baja California Quality Award 2001 (”Best Maquiladora Company”) and the PROFEPA/CNIME Environmental Award (EPA/National Maquiladora Council).
About Plantronics
Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) introduced the first lightweight headset in 1962 and is recognized as the world leader in communications headsets. For decades Plantronics has applied its expertise to the mission-critical communications of agencies such as the FAA, U.S. military and NASA. In fact, a Plantronics headset transmitted Neil Armstrong’s historic “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” from the moon in 1969. A publicly held company headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, Plantronics has approximately 4,400 employees and maintains offices in 20 countries. For more information go to www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.
Plantronics, the logo design and Plantronics and the logo design combined are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
