After an 18-month qualifying process, in December the John Deere Turf Care facility (Raleigh, N.C.) received its ISO 9000 certification. ISO 9000 is a voluntary system in framing procedures for manufacturing quality and is administered by the International Organization of Standardization in Geneva, Switzerland. The standards for manufacturing facilities cover multiple elements, from paperwork and tracking systems to parts inventory and the assembly process.

“ISO certification ensures the repeatability of product and process quality with an emphasis on continuous improvement to support genuine value for our stakeholders,” says Michael Rebilas, quality manager at the turf care facility. “Our 377 employees are dedicated to producing the highest quality products, and we’re proud to be included in the ranks of the company’s other ISO-certified facilities.”

Turf care officials say they are preparing a project plan to upgrade the current certification to ISO 9000:2000.

John Deere has been manufacturing commercial mowing and golf and turf equipment since July 1997.