Press Release

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- MSA (Amex: MSA), the world's leading manufacturer of safety equipment, announced today that its Murrysville manufacturing facility has been recognized by IndustryWeek magazine as one of the best-run plants in North America and Europe. IndustryWeek, the premier publication for manufacturing management, bestows "Best Plant" awards annually to recognize world-class manufacturing capabilities and a management mindset of continuous improvement.

"This achievement is a great credit to the dedication and ingenuity of all of our associates at the Murrysville facility," said John T. Ryan III, MSA chairman and chief executive officer. "They have each taken ownership of their individual goals and, in a team effort, worked proactively to realize extraordinary advances in productivity, quality and safety. I commend everyone at the Murrysville facility for this outstanding accomplishment."

IndustryWeek selected MSA's Murrysville facility from a broad field of more than 250 international nominees based on performance metrics and practices in categories such as continuous improvement benchmarking, community involvement, customer and supplier relations, employee involvement, environment and safety programs, inventory management, manufacturing operations and flexibility, market results, productivity, quality and use of technology.

In receiving the IndustryWeek honor, the plant was recognized for several noteworthy achievements. These included:
-- Ninety-six percent on-time delivery to customers -- Seventy-seven percent reduction in hazardous wastes over the last five

years and a 100 percent reduction in toxic wastes -- Twenty-five percent increase in productivity since 1995 -- Thirty-three percent increase in plant-level return on net assets -- Employee attendance consistently above 98 percent since 1995

Since 1976 the Murrysville facility has manufactured life-saving equipment for firefighters throughout North America, as well as a full line of hard hats for construction and industrial workers around the world. In 1994, the plant achieved ISO 9001 certification on its first attempt -- an accomplishment achieved by only 20 percent of all ISO applicants.

MSA's Murrysville operation is staffed by one of the most experienced and skilled work forces in the safety products industry. The average length of service for MSA's skilled operators there exceeds 24 years and equates to more than 6,300 years of experience. The majority of work performed at Murrysville involves many proprietary technologies that are central to the production of MSA safety equipment. These processes include machining, plastic injection molding, rubber molding, metal processing and product assembly.

"MSA's Murrysville facility is among the plants that have set the standard for excellence in manufacturing," said IndustryWeek Executive Editor Patricia Panchak. "They define the winning strategies for achieving world-class performance. IndustryWeek is proud to celebrate the winners' success and share their stories."

In addition to MSA's Murrysville facility, other IndustryWeek "Best Plant" honorees include Compaq Computer's Americas' Software Manufacturing & Distribution unit, Imation Corp., and Lucent Technologies' Product Realization Center, Wireless Networks Group.

A complete list of IndustryWeek's "Best Plants in America" is available on its Web site at www.industryweek.com. The November print issue of IndustryWeek, available October 16, also will feature the winners. IndustryWeek will formally present the award to MSA on November 2 during a ceremony held at the Murrysville facility.

About IndustryWeek

IndustryWeek is the only magazine dedicated to covering the complexities of managing a manufacturing company in today's New Economy. Now in its 29th year, IndustryWeek has an audience of 250,000 subscribers. Copies of IndustryWeek can be ordered through its customer sales and service department at 800-326-4146.

About MSA

MSA is the world's leading supplier of quality products and services that protect people's health, safety, and the environment. The company has sales and manufacturing operations throughout the United States and has 29 international affiliates.
SOURCE Mine Safety Appliances Company
CONTACT: Mark Deasy of Ketchum PR, 412-456-3843, for Mine Safety Appliances; or Benedict DeMaria of Mine Safety Appliances, 412-967-3108