FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 1998

CONTACT: Michael Orenstein (202) 606-1800 mworenst@opm.gov

DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA TO RECEIVE FEDERAL QUALITY AWARD

Washington, D.C. -- The Defense Industrial Supply Center, U.S. Department of Defense, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will receive a Program Finalist award during the Presidents Quality Award Program ceremony for improving customer service and saving tax dollars.

The federal award will be presented by U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Janice R. Lachance on:

Director Lachance also will present the Defense Contract Management Command Long Island with the Presidential Award for Quality, the governments top honor for quality improvement.

The Defense Industrial Supply Center (DISC) is valued by customers for the knowledge and expertise of its employees in providing procurement and contract administration services. DISC serves as a vital link to Americas servicemen and women at home and abroad by ensuring that troops are equipped with essential combat components and other hardware necessary for military readiness. Procurements include repair and maintenance components for key weapons systems, including the Trident, Patriot and Minuteman III missiles, Black Hawk helicopter and the Ohio and Los Angeles Class submarines.

As a leader possessing both vision and business acumen, DISC operates under a value philosophy: Readiness is not wholly measured or achieved through the simple exchange of dollars-for-equipment, but, at least in part, by relationships forged through trust and confidence between vendor and final user.

In fiscal year 1996, for example, DISC contracted with more than 5,400 manufacturers and distributors to supply $1.4 billion worth of goods to Americas troops. Many of these vendors were selected from DISCs Qualified Suppliers List for Manufacturers and Distributors. DISCs listed vendors have an historical record for consistently providing high-quality products in timely fashion and at affordable prices.

So greatly valued by DISC customers are the intangibles that come with the purchase of every product or system. Often, the intangibles are the institutional memory and foresight of the Commands professionals. For instance, DISC anticipates the wear schedules many years into the future for products having a limited life. Anticipating product replacement needs, DISC can order replacement parts in a timely -- but not premature -- manner, thereby cutting the downtime of equipment and reducing the cost to taxpayers.

As a result of the high level of service, customer satisfaction with DISC was 79.3 percent in 1996 and back-ordered items were reduced by 25 percent from 1993 to 1997.

Media interested in attending the Presidents Quality Award Program ceremony or receiving additional information should contact OPMs Mike Orenstein at 202-606-1800.

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