ABS QE Applying Quality Standards to Education Field.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 30, 1998--The traditionally business-driven market of quality certification enters a new era of thinking as service industries seek out third-party registrars for quality management. At the forefront of this trend is one of the leading global registrars, ABS Quality Evaluations, with its recent accreditation in educational services.

"The educational service sector provides an innovative opportunity for certification," says Steve DeSutter, president of ABS Quality Evaluations. "Traditionally, people have only considered quality certification for manufacturing, material processing or other product development processes. But applying the ISO framework for quality and consistency in service organizations is very forward thinking."

For DeSutter and his team, the idea of certifying services -- especially educational services -- represents a rewarding challenge. "For schools to implement and maintain an internationally recognized and proven management system to create consistent teaching, policies, curriculum development or administration for educators across the board is a tremendous concept," comments DeSutter.

The standard industrial classification code (SIC) for educational services is SIC 82. ABS Quality Evaluations has been authorized by the Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) to issue ISO 9000 quality management certification in this major service group. The educational services sector includes establishments providing academic or technical instruction as well as other educational services such as libraries, student exchange programs or curriculum development.

For business, quality management certification has meant meeting International Organization for Standards or ISO 9000 standards. In many markets, ISO designation has become the entry ticket to doing business globally. ABS Quality Evaluations now moves the ISO concept into action in the educational arena.

ABS Quality Evaluations is a subsidiary of the ABS Group of Companies Inc., an affiliate of the American Bureau of Shipping. As a leading global registrar, ABS QE offers a comprehensive array of management system certification services including certification to ISO 9000, QS-9000 and ISO 14000 standards. ABS QE is also an approved AS 9000 registrar. Nearly 3,000 clients in a variety of industries have turned to ABS for private-sector third-party quality certification.