TANURY'S HISTORY
  • Founded as a family business in 1946, "Tanury Brothers, Inc." employed twelve people and relied directly on the costume jewelry business, an established industry in Rhode Island since the mid-nineteenth century.
  • At the age of 23 Thomas A. Tanury went to work with his father Frederick, and in 1976 the two took full ownership of the company. Two years later, Tom and Fred, with an eye toward the future, gambled it all and built a new 7,200 square foot facility in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Since then, the facility has grown to over 50,000 square feet.
  • By the 1980's Tanury Industries had become the finishing leader in the jewelry industry distinguishing itself from the competition with its emphasis on specification plating, quality, waste management and environmental responsibility.
The Expansion
  • Thomas Tanury saw opportunities in the automotive, aircraft, writing instrument, and eyewear markets, industries that were heading into an era of high-quality, jewelry-like finishes on their products.
  • Suppliers that served the automotive, aircraft, pen or eye frame industries had pulled far ahead of firms serving the jewelry industry in use of modern management techniques. In particular, they had sophisticated information systems that the jewelry industry was only beginning to consider.
  • Tanury Industries embarked on an intensive program to prepare the company for competition in these markets, a program of improvement that continues today. Today, the company has computerized systems for quoting, costing, billing, bar-coding, order tracking and sales analysis.
  • Tanury Industries complemented these systems with state-of-the-art testing facilities for its environmental, analytical, and X-ray laboratories. In 1989 Tanury received General Motors seal of approval and was named an "Accredited General Motors Test Facility."
  • To complete its metamorphosis, Tanury invested in employee education and new technology. Employees began a series of rigorous training sessions as the company undertook a Total Quality Management (TQM) approach to business. In addition, the company heavily invested in automated plating technology, high-specification computerized process control plating systems, conveyorized work-movement systems, and ISO certification.
The Quest For Excellence
  • By 1994 the Tanury Industries was prepared to join the ranks of world-class companies. Under the leadership of CEO, Michael Akkaoui, the company began its quest for ISO certification. Every phase of the business operation was reevaluated, from plating and quality control through billing and purchasing. Each function was documented, and employees were trained to standard operating procedures.
  • In November, 1996, Tanury Industries became the first decorative electroplater in the United States to achieve ISO-9002 registration. Measurement and certification were performed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), an independent third-party registrar. NSAI audited Tanury's processes to ensure that its quality system was well documented, fully implemented and consistently followed by trained, knowledgeable personnel.