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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2002
Release No. 02-038
Postal Service Honors Six Outstanding Companies
With "2002 Quality Supplier Awards"

WASHINGTON, DC - Postmaster General John E. Potter today recognized six companies that the United States Postal Service considers "the best of the best" in supplying its employees with the equipment, tools and services they need to deliver superior products and services to the American public.

"When it comes to excellence, you have set the standard for quality suppliers and have become vital partners to our success in identifying and responding to the needs of our customers," Potter told chief executive officers of the award-winning companies during an afternoon ceremony at Postal Service headquarters.

Keith Strange, vice president of Purchasing and Materials, noted that to be eligible for a Quality Supplier Award, a firm must have earned more than $500,000 during the last fiscal year. Each nominee then went through a rigorous seven-step evaluation process in order to make the final cut. Mirroring the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process, small teams of postal evaluators selected the winners by reviewing each application, making an on-site visit with the firm and its employees, and talking to key Postal Service customers and purchasing individuals familiar with the supplier.

"We recognize the critical importance of you and our diverse supplier base, because your performance is a vital key to our continued success," said Strange. "To win this award, you each had to excel in every area tested in providing the Postal Service with high quality services and materials."

According to Strange, purchasing supplies and materials is no small task. In fiscal year 2001, the Postal Service spent more than $9.5 billion for transportation, facilities, supplies, and services with a supplier base that included more than 25,600 suppliers. Out of 1,850 eligible suppliers invited to participate, six firms were selected as Quality Supplier Award winners.

2002 Quality Supplier Award categories and winners are listed below:

SMALL BUSINESS - OPERATIONAL SERVICES
911 Air Cargo, Inc. of Austin, TX
(Air Taxi Contract Routes)
SMALL BUSINESS - PROFESSIONAL & CONSULTANT SERVICES
Foth & Van Dyke and Associates, Inc. of Green Bay, WI
(Bulk Mail Center Equipment Enhancement, Tray Management Systems, and other Mail Facility Projects)
SMALL BUSINESS - MANUFACTURING
Hardy Instruments, Inc. of San Diego, CA
(Scale Work Station Systems and Floor Scales)
Rand-Whitney Container LLC of Newtown, CT
(Corrugated Boxes)
LARGE BUSINESS - PROFESSIONAL & CONSULTANT SERVICES
PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting of Arlington, VA
(Transit-Time Measurement System (TTMS), Numerous Consulting Tasks)
LARGE BUSINESS - MANUFACTURING
Compaq Computer Corporation of Greenbelt, MD
(Providers of PCs, Hardware, Software and Technical Support)


Following are comments by the Quality Supplier Award winners:

SMALL BUSINESS - OPERATIONAL SERVICES
911 Air Cargo, Inc.
(Air Taxi Contract Routes)

"We are proud to be recognized for meeting the quality service standards expected of all U.S. Postal Service suppliers. At 911 Air Cargo, we feel the mail is special beyond compare to any other type of shipment. The anthrax attacks showed the public and policy makers alike that the institution that delivers our mail is as vital to our national spirit as the mail itself is to our personal lives. The fact that our company is part of the team delivering all those love letters, bills, checks, and gifts still makes us pinch ourselves once in awhile!" Winning this award is equivalent to winning the Academy Award for best picture with each and every employee playing a role contributing to the success. It could never have happened without all of them."

-- Madlin A. Mangrum, J.D., President and CEO

SMALL BUSINESS - PROFESSIONAL & CONSULTANT SERVICES
Foth & Van Dyke and Associates, Inc.
(Bulk Mail Center Equipment Enhancement, Tray Management Systems, and other Mail Facility Projects)

"There is no higher honor for Foth & Van Dyke than to be commended by a client. And when that client is one such as the U.S. Postal Service, which touches the lives of virtually every American every day, the honor is especially gratifying. The Quality Supplier Award, earned by Foth & Van Dyke members, is a proud achievement and a stepping stone for continuous improvement efforts in our organization."

-- Tim Weyenberg, CEO

SMALL BUSINESS - MANUFACTURING
Hardy Instruments, Inc.
(Scale Work Station Systems and Floor Scales)

"We believe that consistent quality is only possible with a consistent belief and culture. Winning the U.S. Postal Service Quality Supplier Award not only means that we have a good quality system in place today, but winning it in 1992 and again in 2001 is evidence of consistent quality and a consistent culture. We are pleased to accept this award as recognition for continued focus on quality in all aspects of our product and service."

-- Dave Ness, President and CEO

Rand-Whitney Container LLC
(Corrugated Boxes)

"As Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, Rand Whitney Container's parent company, I take great pride in accepting the very prestigious United States Postal Service Quality Supplier Award. It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of the dedicated professionals at Rand-Whitney who are working on your behalf every day. Our company is built on the premise that people working together as a team, in an environment that is challenging, mutually supportive and fun, can achieve extraordinary results. This award is particularly gratifying as Rand-Whitney, following a visit to the White House by our football team, the New England Patriots, is the second Kraft Group company to be honored in our Nation's Capital this year. For all of us at Rand-Whitney, this is our Super Bowl Victory! I would also like to personally thank the United States Postal Service for giving us the opportunity to contribute to your success. It has been our privilege to serve you during 2001 and we look forward to serving you in the years to come."

-- Robert K. Kraft, Chairman and CEO, Kraft Group

LARGE BUSINESS - PROFESSIONAL & CONSULTANT SERVICES
PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting
(Transit-Time Measurement System (TTMS), Numerous Consulting Tasks)

"The Postal Service faces many challenges today, ranging from increased competition to rapidly changing technology. In response to these challenges, the Postal Service has embarked upon transformation initiatives designed to improve value to customers, increase productivity, and create a performance-driven culture. We are extremely proud of the work that we have done for the United States Postal Service in supporting these efforts, and appreciate this important level of recognition that this Quality Supplier Award represents."

-- Grady Means, Managing Partner

LARGE BUSINESS - MANUFACTURING
Compaq Computer Corporation
(Providers of PCs, Hardware, Software and Technical Support)

"The USPS Quality Supplier Award recognizes suppliers who have consistently delivered quality products and services on-time, have a strong focus on continuous improvement, and a deep-rooted commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Each year, the QSA Process provides Compaq another opportunity to evaluate ourselves against the extremely high standards of business excellence and customer satisfaction measures outlined by the U.S. Postal Service QSA Program. This recognition is a tribute to the dedicated team of professionals who support the U.S. Postal Service everyday. Compaq is truly honored to win our fifth U.S. Postal Service Quality Supplier Award in the last six years."

-- Peter Blackmore, Executive Vice President of Sales and Service



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Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.

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