The Provo division of R.R. Donnelley & Sons has received certification from a worldwide standards board that will help it do business in Europe and the Pacific Rim.
The Documentation Services Division met guidelines in the past year that earned it ISO 9000 certification through the International Organization for Standards. The 47-year-old organization develops standards to improve communication and to promote smooth and equitable growth of international trade."Businesses that are going to survive, not just excel, but survive, must identify their process and continually work to improve it," said Rich Barbee, division director. This is the starting point to turning the Provo division into a "world-class operation," he said.
Gov. Mike Leavitt and Provo City officials honored R.R. Donnelley at a reception Tuesday night. Leavitt said one word describes the company: quality.
By receiving the certification, the company will meet standards that are starting to be enforced in the global marketplace. The European Community has determined that it will no longer accept products not produced by a company that is ISO 9000 registered. The Provo division, which does documentation publishing for the high-tech industry, has customers with a presence in Europe.
"Many nations in Europe are already enforcing the ISO 9000 standards, and other countries in the Pacific Rim are adopting the same standards. In order for Utah companies to be competitive, they must receive this certification," said Jim Herrin of the state's International Business Department.
Don Swartz, R.R. Donnelley senior vice president for marketing, said the standards were established as a way to keep non-European companies out of Europe.
Swartz said he worked with two companies that went from almost being shut down to thriving in less than two years after meeting the international standards. The next step, he said, was to take the Provo division to a higher level. It is one of 11 Utah companies with ISO 9000 certification.
R.R. Donnelley opened its division in the East Bay Business Center after buying financially struggling Professional Lithographers Inc. in May 1992. It employs about 500 people. It also has facilities in Orem, Sandy and West Valley City.
A $4.2 billion company, R.R. Donnelley publishes computer documentation, books, national magazines and software packages.