Nomacorc recognized as Best-in-Class in Lean Sigma

ZEBULON, N.C. (January 29, 2009) – Nomacorc, the world’s leading producer of alternative wine closures, has been recognized by Operations Leadership Exchange, a division of the Corporate Executive Board company, as “Best in Class” in the category of Lean Sigma and process excellence.

Operations Leadership Exchange, a global leader in best-practices research and analysis, regularly interviews and audits the operational practices of companies in several industries including consumer products, food and beverage, technology, industrial manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. The company focuses its research on issues that are relevant to a wide variety of companies and industries.

Recent research in the area of Lean Sigma practices included reviews of over 40 companies, from which Nomacorc was identified as “Best in Class.” Operations Leadership Exchange is preparing a case study profiling Nomacorc’s application of Lean Sigma principles to solve problems and improve results. The case study will be published in an online resource center available to Operations Leadership Exchange’s large list of highly regarded member companies. Nomacorc is the first wine closure manufacturer to receive recognition from Operations Leadership Exchange.

“In our research, we speak with hundreds of companies annually to identify best practices,” said Kenneth Lim, research and product director of Operations Leadership Exchange. “Nomacorc’s comprehensive Lean Sigma program clearly differentiates the company from others we have seen. Nomacorc is showing leadership and innovation in moving beyond the mere application of Lean Sigma tools. The company has been successful at engaging its production workforce to take ownership of improvement efforts and develop the skills and mind-set needed to sustain its efforts. This approach has allowed Nomacorc to create a more scalable program that involves more of its employees, leading to impressive gains in key metrics over a short period.”

Nomacorc began implementing its Lean Sigma Business System in 2006, with the goal of implementing end-to-end excellence in all its manufacturing and business practices. As a result, both the company and its customers have benefited from the elimination of non-value-added processes, significantly shortened lead times, and continued advancements in product consistency.

“We are honored to receive the ‘Best in Class’ recognition from an internationally renowned organization such as Operations Leadership Exchange,” said Nagib Nasr, vice president of global operations for Nomacorc. “The success of our Lean Sigma Business System is the result of the hard work and dedication of Nomacorc employees worldwide who understand and value the importance of providing closures that ensure protection of our customers’ wines.”

About Nomacorc
Nomacorc is the worldwide leader in the growing alternative wine closure category. Dedicated to technological innovation, Nomacorc manufactures its portfolio of products using a patented co-extrusion process. As a result, Nomacorc closures provide consistent, predictable oxygen management and protect against off-flavors due to oxidation, reduction or cork taint. Nomacorc products are available through a vast network of distributors and sales agents on six continents. With more than 400 employees worldwide and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium and China, Nomacorc currently produces closures at the rate of more than 2 billion annually. Nomacorc closures are 100 percent recyclable. For more information, visit nomacorc.com.

About the Corporate Executive Board
Operations Leadership Exchange’s parent company, the Corporate Executive Board company (NASDAQ: EXBD), is a leading provider of best-practices research and analysis focusing on corporate strategy, operations, and general management issues. EXBD provides its integrated set of services to more than 3,700 of the world’s largest and most prestigious corporations, including over 80 percent of the Fortune 500. These services include best-practices research studies, executive-education seminars, management implementation toolkits, customized research briefs, and Web-based access to a library of over 300,000 corporate best practices.

Contact: Katie Myers
Richards Partners for Nomacorc
214-891-5842
katie_myers@richards.com

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