PTDA unveils new programs in Hawaii

By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 12/1/2000

Waikoloa, Hawaii-The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. celebrated its 40th anniversary at the group's recent annual convention, held at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa, Hawaii, Oct. 23-28.

Titled "Power of the End User: Rules and Roles for the New Millennium," the convention featured several key announcements.

First and foremost, the association unveiled to members PT Interactive, a multi-media primer on product training. PTDA executive director Mary Sue Lyon said the program was well received and that the association is beginning to fill orders from members.

The CD-ROM program was three years in the making.

Another key initiative announced in Hawaii was PTDA's new Industrial Distribution Quality System. The program is similar to the ISO quality system, said Lyon, but is tailored to industrial distribution companies. It was created by a task force of quality specialists from PTDA member firms and focuses on management, quality system input, internal operations and quality system output elements specific to the PT/MC industry.

The program will be administered by PTDA, and industry professionals will review participating companies for certification. The program has been in the works for two years, Lyon said.

"It is a major accomplishment and we're feeling very excited about it," she said.

Also at the convention, the association announced the formation of its E-Commerce Standards Task Force, which is charged with developing standards for conducting e-business in the PT/MC industry.

"That is something we are also very excited about doing," said Lyon.