MAPEX DRUMS RECEIVES ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION

Mapex

Posted 2003-09-02

Mapex USA announced today that the company’s wholly-owned KHS drum manufacturing facility has received the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Certification. ISO 9001 is formally recognized throughout the North America, Europe and Asia as the world’s benchmark for manufacturing excellence. “Right now, Mapex is delivering a level of quality unmatched by any other drum manufacturer,” said Chuck Turk, Vice President and General Manager of Mapex USA.

“ISO 9001 is the most widely recognized quality assurance standard in the world. The criteria for ISO 9001 are incredibly demanding. Worldwide, only a tiny percentage of manufacturers will ever obtain ISO certification,” Turk explained. “Our KHS manufacturing team worked very hard to meet the rigorous guidelines and to pass the many audits along the way. This is a tremendous achievement and an important milestone for our company and our customers.”

In order to receive ISO 9001 designation, a manufacturer is required to pass stringent sets of globally recognized criteria for quality in product design and development, production, and for customer satisfaction. These tests are done in the form of audits that take place frequently over more than a year to assure that the company meets the strict requirements. After accreditation, ISO 9001 companies must continually improve customer satisfaction by improving their quality management systems.

“Mapex has a tremendous manufacturing advantage,” Turk said. “Most drum brands have to contract their production out to factories over which they have no control. Obviously, we never have to do that. We own the most modern drum manufacturing facility in the world—the ISO certification attests to that.”

Turk, a former professional drummer himself, said the company is just beginning to capitalize on its manufacturing advantage. “These days, a lot of companies just want to meet expectations. Mapex isn’t about that at all. Mapex is about blowing away expectations.”

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATION

The International Standards Organization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies created to facilitate international trade by development of global standards for measuring quality and related activities. ISO provides the criteria, the testing and the maintenance procedures for high quality manufacturing. Since the first ISO standards were issued in 1987, an ISO Certification has come to be recognized as the ultimate assurance of a company's quality management practice.

###

ABOUT MAPEX DRUMS

Combining proprietary design, engineering and manufacturing, Mapex Drums creates the highest quality, most versatile products available to drummers today—from entry-level students to legendary professionals.

Every Mapex drum is designed and crafted to produce a full-bodied, well-balanced sound that is complemented by the beauty of Mapex’s durable wrapped, wax and lacquer finishes. From the groundbreaking style of Gregg Bissonette and the steady rhythm lines of Jim Donovan to the rich groove of Herlin Riley, Mapex’s diverse roster of artists are actively involved in testing new designs and their real-world input drive R&D.

Mapex Drums backs their products with the most comprehensive product warranty in the industry. All drum shells come with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Hoops and finishes carry a limited warranty of one year and all Mapex parts and hardware come with an unprecedented five-year limited warranty.

Mapex Drums is part of the KHS Musical Instrument family of companies, one of the largest producers of musical instruments in the world, making Mapex one of the only drum manufacturing companies with complete control over every aspect of production—from raw materials to finished drums and hardware. The KHS manufacturing facility is one of the most modern in China and is certified as ISO 9001:2001 compliant—the world’s benchmark for manufacturing excellence.

Mapex USA, Inc. is located at 118 Wheeler St., LaVergne, TN 37086. The telephone number is: 615.793.2050. The fax number is: 615.793.2070. The web address is www.mapexdrums.com.

MAPEX DRUMS RECEIVES ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFICATION

Mapex

Special Deals