Faurecia Named Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council's Corporation of the Year

AUBURN HILLS, MI -- Oct. 16, 2014: Faurecia North America, the sixth-largest automotive supplier in North America, has been named Corporation of the Year in the Manufacturing Level II category, and Faurecia's Glenn Donell was designated National Buyer of the Year by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC). The honors were announced this week at the 31st Annual MMSDC Awards Ceremony in Detroit.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Faurecia North America has pursued a vision to become the global industry benchmark for diversity and to champion a diverse extended enterprise that reflects Faurecia's employee and customer base. The acknowledgement of Faurecia's efforts by the MMSDC represents a continuing validation of the company's commitment to diversity.

Donell is the Director of Purchasing for North America Transportation and Tool & Equipment for New Programs with Faurecia North America's Automotive Seating unit, where he has launched several new major programs to meet purchasing timelines, lead-time deadlines and business-plan financial objectives. He is pursuing his certification in Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM).

"We are most gratified to have earned this exceptional recognition from the MMSDC," said Faurecia North America Director of Diversity Management Charles Perkins. "We at Faurecia recognize the direct benefits that diversity infuses into our organization. Diversity increases business opportunities, brings fresh viewpoints into our development and manufacturing processes and helps us grow overall. It drives market penetration, assists in understanding our diverse customer base and provides us with an overall competitive advantage. The MMSDC helps us further our diversity goals as we seek to help that organization grow a thriving minority supplier community."

Faurecia North America has established formal criteria and processes for identifying and approving its own minority suppliers. Among the requirements include:

Certification by a regional affiliate council of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council or the Women's Business Enterprise National Council
TS16949 (formerly QS 9000) registered
ISO 9000 registered
Electronic Data Interchange capable
Ability to meet cost, quality, delivery and technology requirements
Provide value-added and/or competitive benefit
In business at least three years with proven financial and operating results
Not a pass-through entity

In winning the MMSDC awards, Faurecia has demonstrated its leadership in meeting the council's standards for its honored recipients, including:

Active inclusion of certified minority suppliers in the procurement process
Assisting in the development of minority suppliers
Promoting supplier diversity and business development within the corporation and to its vendors, as well as to other business and organizations

"Our mission now, as always, will be to enhance Faurecia North America's customer satisfaction and profitability by promoting diversity as a tool for achieving best-in-class quality, cost and delivery," Perkins said, "while using communication and outreach to provide access, growth and development opportunities for Faurecia North America, and certified diverse enterprises."