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Lilly launches consultancy on FR compliance

By David Perry -- Furniture Today, January 29, 2006

St. Charles, Ill. — The Lilly Management Group is launching a four-step program designed to help bedding producers meet new mattress flammability standards.

The company said the program, which will be introduced at the Las Vegas Market this month, will help the producers meet a new federal standard, expected to go into effect early next year, in a cost-efficient and timely manner.

Lilly Management Group, based here, is headed by former Serta executives Ed Lilly and Susan Ebaugh. The management team also includes Bob Sabalaskey, formerly vice president of manufacturing and research and development at Serta.

The three executives have extensive experience in the mattress flammability field. When they were at Serta, the company became the first national bedding producer to commit to fire-resistant bedding lines.

The new FR compliance program is called FR-PRO. It includes the systems, procedures and materials needed for initial planning, product design, performance testing and FR implementation.

"The road to compliance can be long, frustrating and costly for many bedding manufacturers that are unfamiliar with the process," said Lilly, the group's managing partner. "Our primary objective is to help those companies achieve both cost-efficient and time-efficient compliance with confidence, and in the context of their own business."

Sabalaskey, the Lilly group's vice president of manufacturing and product engineering, said the FR-PRO process begins with an in-depth explanation of the new standard. The program also provides guidance for assessing FR constructions, costs and logistics, and for conducting full-scale component screen tests and product prototype tests.

"Smart prototyping is one of the most critical parts in the process," Sabalaskey said. "Missteps or mistakes in your approach can waste valuable months and substantial dollars. The entire program is about saving time and money as you get compliant."

Manufacturers will need to modify their systems, quality assurance practices and record-keeping procedures, he added. FR-PRO provides guidance for factory supervisors and operators in the "Essential Elements of the Production Process," another Lilly Management Group program focused on manufacturing training and quality assurance.

Finally, the program aims to help producers adopt proven systems and procedures to ensure effective and consistent FR compliance for the long term. "Every company that participates will be completely prepared to implement FR on its own, into any new products in the future," Lilly said.

Given the short time remaining before a federal open flame standard goes into effect and the fact that the process of becoming FR-compliant often takes longer than expected, the group is offering FR-PRO on a first-come, first-served basis, the company said. A confidentiality agreement involving LMG and the participating manufacturer is a mandatory part of the program.

The Las Vegas Market will mark the Lilly Management Group's official introduction to the bedding industry. The team will be touring the market to introduce the firm and its services. LMG offers consulting services to manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in the mattress industry.

Companies can learn more about LMG and the FR-PRO program by calling (630) 377-2424 or sending an e-mail to info@lillymanagementgroup.com.

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Lilly launches consultancy on FR compliance

Jan 23, 2006

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