December 21, 1998 - Standard Electric is proud to announce the company has received ISO 9002 certification. This certification covers the company's 120,000 square feet, state-of-the-art distribution center in Wilmington. The warehouse includes sophisticated voice and data capabilities to enhance customer service. Standard Electric is the largest electrical distributor in the Northeast.

ISO (International Organization of Standards) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from over 120 countries. Its mission is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services.

"We take our commitment to our customers seriously and we continually strive for the highest standards in our business," commented Steven G. Brand, the company's President and CEO. He added, "ISO 9002 accreditation is underscores our pursuit of excellence."

To achieve ISO 9002 certification, Standard Electric clearly defined work procedures, specified methods of collecting data on how well processes are operating, and created quality systems documentation.

As the largest independent supply house in the Northeast, Standard Electric services a wide range of contractor, commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Company hallmarks are product knowledge, product availability, rapid-response service and immediate delivery.

Standard Electric focuses on anticipating customer demands. This commitment includes establishing vendor relationships with the best names in our industry, enabling Standard to provide not only the pricing and service customers require, but the brand names they trust. It also means bringing together the most experienced team of sales representatives in the region-professionals who understand our customers' needs. Additionally, the commitment to customer demands means building and maintaining an inventory of unmatched breadth and depth, and developing a delivery system that could respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And it led to fully computerizing the company's inventory, setting up direct order entry and stock level monitoring systems, and maintaining dedicated inventory for individual customers.

Founded in 1952, Standard Electric has diversified in several areas. Over the years, Standard Electric has experienced significant growth in markets such as Construction and Contractor Sales (electrical and general contractors), Commercial Sales (property managers, hospitals, schools, financial institutions, banking, insurance and government), National Accounts (multi-site retail, entertainment and restaurant chains), Retail Lighting (residential lighting showrooms), and Lighting Design (fee-based consulting services).

Within the last seven years, Standard has acquired five other independent electrical distributors in the metropolitan Boston area, and in 1995, the company opened an office in California to better service its National Account business. Standard Electric is also a leading national force in industrial applications as diverse as automation technology, power distribution and construction coordination.

The company, which recently celebrated its 46th anniversary, has annual sales in excess of $100-million and employs more than 250 people.

For more information about Standard Electric, call (978) 658-5050 or visit them on the World Wide Web at www.standardelectric.com.