FedEx ISO Status Re-Certified; Only Express Transportation Company to Receive Worldwide ISO 9001 Certification

Business Wire, Oct 16, 1997

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 1997--Federal Express Corp. (NYSE:FDX) has achieved the most rigorous international standard for Quality Management and Assurance by earning re-certification of ISO 9001 registration for its global operations from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).

Not only is FedEx the only express transportation company to receive worldwide certification of its systems, it passed the re-certification assessment during the recent 16-day UPS strike when FedEx employees handled more than 9.5 million additional packages.

"FedEx met the rigorous quality system standards we at Lloyd's apply for ISO 9001 certification," said Atul Puri, LRQA president in the U.S. "We were impressed both by the company's use of technology and by the commitment of its employees to provide the high level of service FedEx customers expect."

"FedEx has demonstrated to us through this re-certification that it not only has the quality process in place, it has focused its full attention on providing the high level of service our customers require," said Patrick Williams, director of Traffic and Facilities for CompuComm in Dallas, Texas. "I think that showed in the way FedEx employees handled our business during the UPS strike."

This re-certification of the FedEx ISO 9001 registration, the most comprehensive certification in the series of quality standards, is for its worldwide operations. FedEx pioneered a unique approach to the quality assessment and certification process which led to its initial worldwide ISO 9001 certification in 1994.

"Our employees and systems were really put to the test during the UPS strike and the ISO 9001 re-certification is proof of the outstanding job we did for our customers," said Ed Clark, senior vice president, Operations Support & Engineering. "As global trade continues to grow, the commitment to quality standards that our ISO 9001 re-certification represents will further set FedEx apart from its competitors."

The ISO 9000 quality standards were developed by the International Organization for Standardization in Geneva to promote and facilitate international trade. More than 90 countries, including European Community members, the U.S. and Japan, recognize ISO 9000.

Federal Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable services for more than 2.9 million items in 212 countries each working day. The company employs approximately 137,000 people and has more than 42,500 drop-off locations, 590 aircraft and 38,500 vehicles in its integrated global network. FedEx maintains electronic connections with more than 750,000 customers via FedEx PowerShip, FedEx Ship and FedEx interNetShip. Federal Express reported revenues of $11.5 billion for its fiscal year ended May 31, 1997.

CONTACT: Federal Express Corporation, Memphis

Gregory M. Rossiter, 901/395-4440

Shirlee M. Clark, 901/395-5642