KANSAS CITY, MO, August 22, 2007 – DST Output's Kansas City, Mo., operation center earned certification earlier this month as a Quality Mailing Partner in the U.S. Postal Service's Mail Preparation Total Quality Management (MPTQM) program. With this designation, DST Output is now MPTQM certified at all of its U.S.-based facilities, which include Kansas City, El Dorado Hills, Calif., and Hartford, Conn. 
"MPTQM certification in all U.S. facilities is a real plus for our clients and for the Postal Service," says Steve Towle, DST Output's president and CEO.
MPTQM is the Postal Service's management and standardized assessment system implemented to ensure quality throughout the mail preparation process – from the generation and barcoding of a letter to the final sorting and containerization that takes place just prior to presenting the mailing to the USPS. MPTQM criteria are based on ISO 9000, Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence, and Total Quality Management methodologies.
The Kansas City facility passed the formal USPS quality inspection on August 15-16 with zero non-conformances. DST Output's Kansas City facility is the first in the country to qualify under the new USPS 7.2 MPTQM standards. The preparation and certification efforts typically take 18 months to complete and Postal Service audits are performed on an annual basis.
Unlike many of its competitors, DST Output can point to MPTQM certification in each of its domestic facilities and its listing as a Quality Mailer to assure clients of the quality mail
preparation performed at its operation centers. This distinction supports DST Output's company goals relating to operational excellence, quality, and client satisfaction.
For additional information about the Postal Service's MPTQM program, visit www.usps.com/mptqm.