Chicago, IL. (April 15, 2011) – HLB, long known as Herbst LaZar Bell, the award-winning product design consulting firm, announced their certification to the ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485:2003 Standards for Quality Management Systems.

"Our ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certification achievements are the result of a dedicated staff who work every day to assure our clients receive the highest level of service quality," said Ford Pearson, CEO of HLB. "We are pleased that our work processes and management has been recognized as meeting these stringent international standards for quality and thoroughness."

ISO 9001 is a comprehensive quality management system, which represents the company's adherence to international standards on good quality management practices and policies that consistently meet customer quality requirements.

ISO 13485 is a standard specific to medical devices that builds on the ISO 9001 standard. Some of the additional requirements relate to risk management, design controls, process controls (including environmental controls), special processes, traceability, record retention, and regulatory actions, all of which are critical for the medical device industry.

These certifications recognize that the policies, practices and procedures of our company ensure consistent quality in the services we provide our clients. With these certifications, our clients can be confident that HLB is dedicated to maintaining the highest efficiency and responsiveness in achieving our ultimate goal – client satisfaction.

"Achieving ISO certification is an intense, multi-year undertaking that sets a very high bar for process and work-flow standards," said Mike Gullotto, Quality Manager at HLB. "Certification to these standards demonstrates to our customers, both medical and non-medical, HLB's commitment to quality in meeting their rigorous requirements."

Said Mr. Pearson: "This achievement is yet another step in HLB's vision to further its legacy of great product design and superior client service. This designation will open new growth opportunities for our firm."

HLB is an award-winning product design consulting firm helping companies in the consumer, medical and industrial marketplaces grow organically through innovation. HLB's approach drives their mission to create products and services that make lives more enjoyable, more convenient and more fulfilling for those who use them. HLB is responsible for countless diverse and widely recognized products, including the Johnson & Johnson Embrace Heart Stabilizer, the Motorola NFL Coaches Headset, and the iRobot Roomba Discovery Floorvac. Visit www.hlb.com for more information.

Contact:
Michael McGrath
michael@stakeholderstrategies.com
312-848-1949