Wallace Company, Inc. Chapter 6 Quality - Wallace Company

Wallace Company Family-owned business based in Houston since 1942 Distributes pipes, valves, fittings, and specialty products to the refining, chemical, and petrochemical industries. 280 employees 9 branch offices throughout Texas and Louisiana Annual sales $100 million

History Early 1980s there was a bust in the Gulf Coast New construction, a majority of their business, halted. Wallace had $44 million inventory and no market Celanese, a major customer, said commit to TQM or cease to be a supplier

Baldridge Criteria Early 1989, two executives learned of the Baldridge Award Decided to use the Baldridge Criteria as a road map for quality. Initial internal scoring was 210 out of 1000 points. Submitted application for Baldridge Award in 1990.

Results Baldrige Award 1990 1989 All-time record on a Monsanto audit Lubrizol’s top-rated supplier (performance rating greater than 98%) Top performing supplier for Dow Chemical Freeport USA First distributor and supply partner to Brown & Root Braun and Bechtel, Inc.