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Mitchellace Achieves ISO Quality Standard Certification

Mitchellace, Inc. has recently announced that they have joined ranks with Quality manufacturers world wide in achieving the criteria set forth to be designated an ISO 9001 Manufacturer.

The shoelace factory, who in the year 2005 celebrates its 103rd year in business in Portsmouth, Ohio, spent nearly one year analyzing its operations to determine where improvements could be made in the areas of recording manufacturing processes and developing standards for each step in the process from Yarn Procurement through Packaging and Shipping finished products.

The ISO 9001:2000 certification is an internationally recognized credential that is awarded to manufacturers who meet or exceed a standard for improving and maintaining increased quality standards by setting the desired standard, recording it, and educating employees about how to maintain it.

This credential is awarded when companies prove they understand the commitment to quality and guarantee that quality standard in every shipment.

“It was a project that involved every employee in the factory,” stated Mitch Keating, Chief Operations Officer, who headed the project. “The entire process took about a year to achieve. We held weekly meetings among our core group of managers and developed weekly “task lists” of items we needed to achieve. Only through this kind of determination were we prepared for the audit which occurred in late November”.

Scott Spradlin, Safety/Quality Manager, remarks, “The project was an entire TEAM effort. In order to achieve the goal, we needed to educate every employee about what our processes involve, how to recognize problems with our processes, and how to document and change them for the good. I'm quite proud of all of my co-workers”. Also included in the core group of managers or Management Review Team, was Bryan Davis, VP of Manufacturing, and Ryan Bouts, Purchasing and Traffic Manager.

The company anticipates that the ISO certification will open doors with many customers, some who will increase their orders, and many more whose own standards only allow them to purchase products from ISO quality manufacturers.

“I see us gaining ground with an entire array of customers who purchase products other than shoelaces,” says Steve Keating, President and CEO, who heads the Sales Department at Mitchellace. “We're producing new items every week, but we project most of our growth coming in the area of Webbings and Industrial Braids. Webbings are commonly used as carry straps for bags or products that resemble flat ropings such as for use in the marine industry. We also anticipate some inroads with automobile manufacturers for products like seat belts or cordings used in SUVs.”

“We've come a long way”, remarked Bryan Davis. “We have known for a long time that this is the way of the future in manufacturing, but knowing about it and achieving it are miles apart”. We've tread those miles, step by step, and we plan to keep marching. ISO paves the way to a secure future for our employees and the continued success of our business. We're quite excited and quite proud!”

Mitchellace provided the World's Largest Shoelace

Mitchellace provided the World's Largest Shoelace to help celebrate Red Wing Shoe Company’s Centennial this year. The bootlace we made is 2 ¼ in diameter and 104 feet long! The boot made its debut at the WSA Show in Las Vegas and will be traveling around the country this year to promote Red Wing’s 100 year anniversary. View Red Wing PDF file (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).