Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995 TAG: 9511140050
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The BBA Friction Inc. plant in the Pulaski County Corporate Center celebrated the Quality Systems 9000 certification last month, along with a belated grand-opening celebration of the plant itself. The plant has operated for about a year and a half.
"We are a state-of-the-art factory," BBA Chief Executive Officer Peter Schmitz told guests from various auto manufacturing companies who toured the plant during the celebration. "We want to set the pace for innovation."
Schmitz said the European-based BBA, which makes friction parts for auto disc brakes and other kinds of accessories, plans to increase production over the next three years at its Pulaski County plant. It now has about 125 employees, and that could triple in the years ahead.
"The process of producing friction materials is simple," Schmitz said, and based on getting the necessary raw materials and processing them. The real problem is modifying them for diverse customers, he said.
The plant is relatively low-tech and labor-intensive now, he said. But in the future, he expects it to increase in automation. "We want to be among the world's best producers of friction products," Schmitz said.
The QS 9000 objective, developed by the Chrysler-Ford-General Motors Supplier Quality Requirements Task Force., is fundamental quality systems providing for continuous improvement, defect prevention and reducing variation and waste in the supply process.
by CNB