Valeo Recognized Again for Manufacturing Excellence; Finalist in North American GEO Award Judging

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--May 31, 2001--The Valeo Friction Materials plant in Queretaro, Mexico, was one of five finalists for the 2001 North American Global Excellence in Operations (GEO) Award, which recognizes the best manufacturing companies in the world.
    This is the second consecutive year that a Valeo plant has earned international recognition for process excellence. The San Luis Potosi Valeo Wiper Systems plant won the North American GEO Award in 2000, the year A.T. Kearney inaugurated the global study of the most effective and innovative operations practices.
    GEO finalists, selected from 100 North American participants, were announced during the recent GEO Conference in Chicago. The ratings are based on five key performance elements: customer satisfaction, quality, economics, agility, and innovation.
    The Valeo Wiper Systems plant in Issoire, France, was also a finalist for the European GEO Award.
    "This recognition is further evidence of the effectiveness of Valeo's approach to improving customer satisfaction based on 5 Axes," said Thierry Morin, Chairman of the Management Board, Valeo, in congratulating the team members of the two award-winning plants.
    "The 5 axes are established tools and methods with specific objectives and quantifiable deliverables aimed at improving the entire flow of the value chain," he explained. "They include: Involvement of Personnel, Supplier Integration, Valeo Production System, Total Quality and Constant Innovation."
    Valeo's Queretaro plant is a part of Valeo Transmissions, the world leader in clutches, clutch facings and a major player in the growing market for cabin air filters. The Issoire plant is part of Valeo Wiper Systems, a leading global supplier of integrated wiper systems and a full range of wiper products.
    Valeo is focused on the design, production, and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks, and ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. Valeo achieved sales in 2000 of 9.1 billion euros. Valeo has 167 plants, 41 research and development centers, 10 distribution centers and employs 75,000 people in 25 countries worldwide. Of these, there are 19 plants and six research and development centers in North America employing 12,000 people. For further information, see www.valeo.com.

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