...and tomorrow's business environments.

The companies are different of course, but in many ways, they are similar. They all have made substantial investments in quality technology and people. They reach out to their customers, suppliers and employees to improve their product and their processes.

These are some of the leaders in producing quality products around the world. The 100 companies invested in quality personnel and the accompanying tools they need to produce quality product, on time and at cost.

The drive for personal continuous improvement is reflected in Quality magazine's State of the Profession Survey, in which more than three-quarters of those surveyed took training during the preceding 12 months. These quality professionals most often underwent Six Sigma, ISO 9000:2000 and management training. Continual training is another common denominator of many of these companies. Firms such as GE and Delphi require continual training.

Many of these companies have integrated Six Sigma in their corporate culture, and Six Sigma has, as its mission, the goal of identifying and resolving problems. Other companies in the Top 100 Quality Plants list have embraced ISO standards or lean manufacturing practices.

All these quality and productivity standards, and initiatives, call for continual improvement, as well as continual communication. The top 5 companies on the list employ teams made up of diverse personnel discussing problems and developing innovative solutions.

1. General Electric (Fairfield, CT)

General Electric (GE) says that its commitment to quality is based on the ideas of globalization and instant access to information, and products and services that continue to change the way its customers conduct business. Their quality mission statement reads, in part, "Today's competitive environment leaves no room for error. We must meet our customers' needs and relentlessly look for new ways to exceed their expectations."

Developing a Six Sigma culture is...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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