Avnet Microwave Technical Solutions Earns ISO 9002 With Zero Non-Conformances.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998--Avnet Microwave Technical Solutions (MTS), a product business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing, recently passed a two-day ISO 9002 audit with zero non-comformances. According to auditors from Quality Management Institute (QMI) who conducted the inspection of MTS's San Jose manufacturing processes, only one company in 20 achieves zero non- conformances (corrective actions needed to comply with ISO requirements) during a manufacturing audit.

"The QMI auditors found that the quality of our manufacturing processes, from order and receipt of raw materials through shipment of finished goods, was significantly advanced over other companies that they had visited, and complimented MTS for its commitment to the spirit and letter of the ISO regulations," said Guy Krevet, product business unit director of Avnet MTS.

ISO 9000 is the general name for the quality standard accepted throughout the European Economic Community. ISO was created to promote worldwide development of quality systems standardization and is accepted in more than 90 countries. The ISO 9002 category of the standard specifically applies to the quality requirements of distributors and manufacturers. QMI is a non-profit division of the Canadian Standards Association with an international reputation for thorough quality audits and stringent reporting standards.

"Earning ISO 9002 certification with zero non-conformances places MTS among a select few companies and shows how serious our commitment to quality is as defined by our customers," Mr. Krevet added. "Each MTS team involved in the manufacturing process continually examines procedures and facilities and establishes quality and process improvement procedures as a standard part of their work environment, not as a special project."

Auditors reviewed the MTS cable and hybrid manufacturing lines, including such processes as die attach, wire bond, packaging, testing, environmental screening and document control, as well as the MTS management philosophy. MTS processes and management are strongly influenced by Deming's principles of quality management and statistical analysis for process evaluation and improvement.

Avnet MTS (formerly PSElect, the value-added division of Penstock) manufactures amplifiers, detectors, attenuators and cable assemblies for frequencies up to 26.5 GHz. The company also provides high-reliability and parametric testing for companies in the RF/Microwave industry. Avnet MTS is a product business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT). Avnet is a Fortune 500 company with annual sales exceeding $5.9 billion. For more information on Avnet MTS, visit the Avnet Electronics Marketing home page at www.em.avnet.com.