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NEWS RELEASE

03-15-01

Contacts:
Stanley Johnson, Extension, (515) 294-6192
Mary Holz-Clause, Extension Value-added Agriculture, (515) 294-0648
Teddi Barron, News Service, (515) 294-4778

ISU AG QUALITY SYSTEMS MEETING TO BE HELD MARCH 28 IN LEWIS

AMES, Iowa — "The Customer Determines Quality" is the topic for an Iowa Agriculture Quality Systems meeting on quality and supply chain management and the implications for Iowa farmers and agribusinesses. The meeting will be from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, at the Southwest Iowa Area Extension's Wallace Foundation Learning Center in Lewis. The Iowa Agriculture Quality Systems program is an initiative of Iowa State University Extension.

The meeting is part of a series that brings together leaders from Iowa agriculture interested in agriculture quality management systems. The purpose is to share information and experiences, learn of opportunities to improve quality management and discuss implications for market access and profitability.

"Recent events, such as mad cow disease and non-approved GM crops in the food chain, have heightened consumers' concerns about quality. Customers are defining and demanding traceability and accountability. Quality systems can provide that assurance to consumers," said Mary Holz-Clause, Iowa State extension value-added agriculture specialist.

The meeting will focus on ISO standards and certifications. ISO is a universal quality management system used by manufacturing and many service industries and endorsed by more than 110 countries. ISO stands for the International Organization for Standards, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Verl Anders and Reg Clause, Iowa State's Center for Industrial Research and Service, will discuss changes in the ISO 9000 Standard, which emphasize customer-driven quality issues.

Brad Savage, an ISO registrant from Chalfont, Pa., will explain the role of a registrar in the ISO certification process.

Craig Floss, Iowa Corn Growers Association, will discuss his international experience working with the ISO standard and share his perspective on quality systems and IP grain.

Terry Tanaka, Mycal Corporation, Jefferson, will review the organic standard and discuss how it is assured throughout the processing system.

Stan Johnson, vice provost for extension at Iowa State, will present the challenges and visions for integrating quality systems and supply chain management into Iowa agriculture.

Sponsors for the meeting are Iowa State's College of Agriculture, ISU Extension and CIRAS.

The Wallace Foundation Learning Center is at 53020 Hitchcock Avenue in Lewis. The meeting is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Contact Janet Gardner, (515) 294-5366 or jrgard@iastate.edu.

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