Microbond EPM received the 2005 silver medal at the "Quest for Gold" program of National Semiconductors.

The companies received these awards as part of National Semiconductor's "Quest For Gold"? supplier performance process. Quest For Gold, initiated in by the National Semiconductors in 1992, uses criteria from the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the Six Sigma Philosophy for quality to evaluate the suppliers providing equipment and materials to National for its manufacturing processes. The program's goal is to encourage and strengthen supplier relationships and improve communication by defining customer-supplier expectations.

National Semiconductor, the industry's premier analog company, creates high performance analog devices and subsystems. National's leading-edge products include power management circuits, display drivers, audio and operational amplifiers, communication interface products and data conversion solutions. National's key analog markets include wireless handsets, displays and a variety of broad electronics markets, including medical, automotive, industrial, and test and measurement applications. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $1.91 billion for its most recent fiscal year.

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