For Immediate Release

Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC, — Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, a leading manufacturer of fiber optic cable, fiber management systems, fusion equipment, and interconnect solutions for the telecommunications marketplace, announced today that it has received TL 9000 certification covering both its RTP and Whiteville manufacturing facilities in North Carolina.

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL) is one of only 37 companies in the telecommunications industry to have met the rigorous standards of the new TL 9000 Quality Management System Requirements. TL 9000 is a specific version of ISO 9001 and is key to maintaining the historically high standards within the telecommunications industry. Having met both TL 9000 and ISO-9001 certifications, Sumitomo continues to provide its customers quality products and solutions with high marks in design, development, production, delivery, and installation.

The timing of SEL’s TL 9000 certification coincides with the recent physical expansions and increased production capacities at both North Carolina manufacturing facilities. The company has begun construction to double capacity at both plants. "We have always been committed to exceeding the expectations of our customers in quality assurance, product excellence, and delivery," comments Fred McDuffee, senior vice president at Sumitomo. "We have responded to our customers' surging market demand for our fiber optic products by not only expanding our facilities, but by also taking every measure to ensure that our manufacturing processes meet or exceed the highest industry standards."

The TL 9000 requirements were developed by the Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications (QuEST) forum of which Sumitomo Electric Lightwave is a charter member. The forum added 84 specific best practices to the ISO 9001 in the areas of customer communication, product design and development to create the more stringent requirements of the TL 9000. TL 9000 also adds provisions for capturing, reporting, and comparing performance measurements, such as on time delivery and problem report resolution.

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is the North American operation within the global network of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI). The company is dedicated to the advancement of local and long-distance telecommunications, cable TV, and broadband technologies. Sumitomo Electric Lightwave is a leading supplier and manufacturer of optical fiber cable, ribbon-configured network solutions, interconnect assemblies, fusion splicer products, FutureFlex‘ Airblown Fiber, and fiber-to-the home, business and desk technologies. Integrated with their passive optical component offerings, Sumitomo’s broad fiber optics product line establishes it as a leader in the physical layer of the optical network.