La-Z-Boy Plant Awarded Iso 9002 CertificationCalifornia Furniture Plant Recognized for Quality Assurance Techniques

Furniture World Magazine

The La-Z-Boy Residential furniture manufacturing plant in Redlands, Calif., was recently granted certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). One of the significant achievements a manufacturing facility can achieve, ISO 9002 certification recognizes organizations that meet or exceed all 20 of the stringent ISO quality standards. "Our Redlands plant actively pursued certification by placing quality measurement systems at every stage of production," said Larry Woolace, vice president of manufacturing for La-Z-Boy Residential, a division of La-Z-Boy Incorporated. "Every Redlands employee has dedicated themselves to maintaining exceptional quality assurance." To obtain ISO certification, an organization must demonstrate its ability to maintain a quality system consistent with the ISO 9002 requirements. La-Z-Boy uses this system to maintain a competitive advantage by effectively and efficiently meeting the needs and expectations of its customers and other stakeholders, including employees, suppliers and owners. Organizations like La-Z-Boy use the ISO 9002 requirements to achieve, maintain and improve overall organizational performance and capabilities. The Redlands facility met and/or exceeded requirements in all of these areas. The Redlands plant is the third La-Z-Boy manufacturing facility to be ISO certified. Other certified facilities include the La-Z-Boy plant in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and the La-Z-Boy Canada plant in Waterloo, Ontario. "We are excited about earning our ISO-9002 certification, and are looking forward to working with our new system," said Ted Meinke, Plant Manager. "ISO's mantra, ‘Say what you do, do what you say, prove it & improve it,’ sounds so simple, but we believe it is the key to moving to the next level of product quality." "It is our intent to obtain ISO 9000 certification at all of our Residential Manufacturing Facilities within the next three years," said Woolace. Headquartered in Monroe, Mich., La-Z-Boy is the nation’s largest single manufacturer of upholstered furniture and the world’s leading producer of reclining chairs. The company manufactures a full line of products for the living room and family room, including the company’s world-famous recliners, reclining sofas and love seats, sleep sofas, modular furniture and leather upholstery, as well as stationary sofas, love seats and chairs. It is a division of La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE, PCX: LZB), the nation’s largest furniture manufacturer.