Comdial awarded ISO 9000 certification.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 1994--Comdial Corp. (NASDAQ/NM:CMDL), Tuesday announced that it has been awarded the International Organization for Standards' (ISO) highest and most comprehensive level of ISO 9000 certification, ISO 9001, effective Oct. 19, 1994.

ISO 9000 is the internationally recognized series of quality management system standards used in over 74 countries. ISO 9001 encompasses the highest level of those standards and includes all 18 of the ISO 9002 and 9003 quality management system standards plus the quality standards for product design control and customer service.

Comdial is currently one of only a few U.S.-based companies in its industry segment to be ISO 9000 certified at any level.

According to the announcement by Comdial President and Chief Executive Officer William G. Mustain, Comdial completed the ISO 9000 certification process after almost two years of intensive effort by all of its employees. The effort included extensive analysis, modification and, where necessary, re-writing of its quality system procedures and processes, followed by companywide training of its personnel.

The certification and audit were conducted by Fairfax, Va.-based Intertek Services Corp., an ISO 9000 certified auditing and training organization that is accredited by the Dutch Council for Certification and the ANSI Registration Accreditation Board (RAB) in the United States. Intertek Services Corp. is part of U.K.-based Inchcape Testing Services.

In making the announcement, Mustain said, "ISO 9000 certification at the 9001 level is essential to Comdial being a major player in the telecommunications products and services marketplace. It has helped improve the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of our business, and it gives us an important marketing edge.

"ISO 9000 certification is especially important to our strategic business plan as we expand our efforts to compete in the worldwide marketplace. Completing all of the required tasks and achieving ISO 9000 certification is the result of the hard work and dedication of all Comdial employees."

The ISO 9001 certification of Comdial's quality management system is applicable to the company's design, development, manufacturing and/or sale of electronic and digital telephone systems, proprietary and analog terminals, OAI solutions, OEM equipment, product services and custom manufacturing.

ISO 9000 quality standards have been widely adopted throughout most of the industrialized world, with more than 30,000 company locations certified in Europe alone. There are approximately 3,000 U.S. companies certified to date and it is estimated that more than 10,000 U.S. companies will seek ISO 9000 certification over the next two to three years.

With the increasing worldwide emphasis on high-quality products and services, companies will need to comply with ISO 9000 standards to effectively compete on a global basis.

Mustain added, "Achieving ISO 9000 certification clearly demonstrates Comdial's companywide commitment to quality. This commitment starts with our senior management and is fully embraced by all Comdial personnel.

"We are constantly monitoring and enhancing our quality management system procedures and processes, and will maintain our ISO 9000 certification with Intertek auditing our procedures every nine months and a full re-certification every three years."

Comdial is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of a broad range of advanced telecommunications products and Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) system solutions.

CONTACT: South Coast Communications Group

Marty Tulio/Owen Daley, 714/252-8440