NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GE VeriWise™ Receives "Baby Baldrige" Connecticut Quality Award
Wayne, PA, October 28, 2005--The Asset Intelligence business team of GE Equipment Services has earned the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award (CQIA) Innovation Prize, known as the "Baby Baldrige," for its VeriWise™ product that helps manage transportation resources. The award was presented Oct. 20 during the CQIA Partnership's 18th Annual Conference in Westbrook, CT. Like the coveted Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award it is modeled after, the CQIA program evaluates entrants on approach, deployment and documented numerical results. The VeriWise dual satellite trailer tracking technology was specifically recognized by the CQIA for “numerical results,” earning a gold-level Innovation Prize. VeriWise can pinpoint a trailer’s precise location within a margin of error of 30 feet. “VeriWise was launched in 2003 and now has an installed base greater than 10,000 units,” said Thomas Konditi, general manager of GE’s Asset Intelligence business. “I think the plus or minus 30 feet target location parameter, along with our documented ability to improve customer productivity by more than 10 percent, had a very specific and positive impact on the judges.” The CQIA has annually recognized Connecticut manufacturing and service companies since 1987 that excel in managing quality improvement for business success and growth and holds the distinction of being America's first state-level quality award. Stamford, CT-based GE Equipment Services was one of two GE business units to secure a CQIA Gold Award this year with GE Healthcare in nearby Fairfield also being honored. Other well-known CQIA Gold winners this year included International Paper and Pitney Bowes, both headquartered in Stamford. The top CQIA Innovation Prize, The Platinum Award, went to Wilton, CT-based GE Infrastructure for EntryScan³, a walkthrough explosive and narcotic trace detector that quickly screens people for contraband without physical contact. "By using creative ingenuity, each of the CQIA prize winners is helping humanity and improving our lives with novel and superior products and services," CQIA founder and executive director Sheila Carmine explained in a congratulatory letter to GE. “CQIA honorees create better health services, improve resource use, widen communications, enhance education and increase safety for all of us." ###
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Patrick Brennan Media Relations Manager, GE - Trailer Fleet Services 484-254-0127
patrick.brennan@ge.com