[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF TRIDENT PRECISION MANUFACTURING, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a 
distinguished company located in New York's 28th Congressional 
District: Trident Precision Manufacturing Inc.
  President Clinton and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor honored 
Trident on December 6, 1996, by awarding it the 1996 Malcolm Baldrige 
National Quality Award for Small Business. The Baldrige Award, which 
highlights customer satisfaction, workforce empowerment, and increased 
productivity, is given annually to companies that symbolize America's 
commitment to excellence. No company could be more deserving of this 
award than Trident Precision Manufacturing.
  Trident manufactures precision sheet metal components, electro-
mechanical assemblies, and custom products. It has grown from a 3 
person operation at its founding in 1979 to an employer of 167 people 
at its facility in Webster, NY today.
  Between 1991 and 1995, Trident's employees submitted more than 5,000 
process-improvement recommendations--and Trident's management 
implemented 97 percent of those ideas. It is a testament to Trident's 
workers and management that over that 5-year period, Trident made 
significant gains in productivity, efficiency, customer satisfaction, 
sales, and profitability. Sales per employee jumped 29 percent, time 
spent on rework decreased nearly 90 percent, and customer complaints 
fell by 80 percent. Defect rates have fallen so consistently that 
Trident now offers a full guarantee against defects in its custom 
products. In 1995, Trident's five major customers rated the quality of 
Trident's products at 99.8 percent or better. The company has never 
lost a customer to a competitor.
  I am delighted that President Clinton and Commerce Secretary Kantor 
chose to recognize Trident for its strong record of quality and its 
excellent business performance. This award was a result of Trident's 
exceptional commitment, not only to the company's bottom line, but to 
its employees and customers. Trident's efforts to train and reward its 
workers are to be particularly commended. Since 1989, Trident has 
invested an average of 4.4 percent of its payroll on training and 
education. This is a remarkable investment for a small company, and two 
to three times above the average for all U.S. industry.
  Trident represents the very best in American business: putting its 
customers first, trusting its employees, building quality into products 
and services, and being responsible corporate citizens. I am proud of 
Trident's success, its achievement, and of the contribution it makes to 
our community. Congratulations to everyone at Trident who shares in 
this honor.

                          ____________________