Sparton Corporation Is Recognized for Its Continued Focus on High Product Quality at a Competitive Cost

Jackson, Michigan - March 1, 2002, - Electronics Design and Manufacturing Service Provider (EMS), Sparton Corporation’s (NYSE:SPA) ongoing quality and lean manufacturing initiatives have led to the achievement of three significant milestones.

Throughout the past year, the Company has refocused its efforts on streamlining business processes, creating lean manufacturing operations and improving product quality. The current strategy has earned Sparton Electronics in London, Ontario, Canada the 2002 London Quality Award. In Deming, New Mexico, Sparton Electronics marked fourteen months of producing zero defect products with 100% on-time delivery. Finally, Sparton Electronics in Jackson, Michigan has been awarded a grant for LEAN Manufacturing training of its entire Michigan based workforce.

Sparton Electronics in London, Ontario, Canada was awarded the 2002 London Quality Award on February 27, 2002. The Company received the award based on superior performance in six principles of business excellence.

These principles included: Strategic leadership within the organization; a business improvement plan implementing its organizational goals; customer relationship management and customer satisfaction; the working environment which management has fostered; process management to improve controls and reduce waste; supplier and partner focus which examines the external relationships critical to meeting objectives.

Beyond the formal criteria against which participants were judged, Sparton Electronics, Canada was also recognized for being certified to the ISO 9001: 2000 standard. It is estimated that fewer than 5% of companies in the world have met this standard.

Sparton Electronics, Deming, New Mexico produces cable and wire harness assemblies for the transportation industry. Throughout the past fourteen months, no part has been returned as being defective from any customer nor has any shipment been late to the customers scheduled requirements.

Finally, Sparton Electronics, Jackson, Michigan has been awarded a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for LEAN Manufacturing training. The grant totaling $74,800 will be used to train Sparton Associates in this advanced manufacturing program.

Provided by the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC), LEAN Manufacturing training consists of training the operations team to continually evaluate the production and administrative environments to reveal hidden inefficiencies. Sparton is nearly complete with the initial LEAN Manufacturing training and estimates the program will reap significant improvements to both product quality and lower costs.

“Throughout the past year, all Sparton associates have continued to work diligently to improve the Company’s value proposition to our customers, partners and shareowners. Even in these recessionary times we remain confident in the future of Sparton and will continue to find ways to reduce inefficiencies while improving the quality of our products and services," said Dave Hockenbrocht, CEO and President of Sparton Corporation.

Sparton Corporation (NYSE:SPA) now in its 102nd year, provides design engineering and electronics contract manufacturing services utilizing six manufacturing locations encompassing over 700,000-sq. ft. along with eleven alliance partner facilities throughout North America and Europe. In addition to strong core surface mount technology (SMT) and plated through-hole (PTH), printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and complete assembly manufacturing capabilities, Sparton offers a complete range of pre-manufacturing, post-manufacturing and engineering services. Pre-manufacturing services include product development, concurrent engineering, design for test (DFT), design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), printed circuit board design and quick-turn prototyping. Post-manufacturing services range from repair depot, direct ship, distribution management to field support.