Traverse City, Mich. -

FOR RELEASE: August 9, 2001

The Shien-Ming Wu Foundation Recognizes Gary L. Cowger, General Motors Group Vice President Manufacturing and Labor Relations

Traverse City, Mich. - General Motors Group Vice President of Manufacturing and Labor Relations, Gary L. Cowger was honored today by the Shien-Ming Wu Foundation with the 2001 Manufacturing Leadership award (click to view the award information in a PDF file format).

The award was presented to Cowger by Mrs. Daisy T. Wu, director and president of the Shien-Ming Wu Foundation and Dwight D. Carlson, founder and former CEO of Perceptron, Inc. and member of the award selection committee at the 2001 Automotive Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

"As a highly accomplished automotive executive, Gary Cowger has been widely recognized as a role model for future manufacturing leaders. The nomination committee felt that it is most appropriate to honor Gary in the name of Sam's foundation," said Wu, speaking of her husband for whom the foundation is named. "His early interaction with Sam helped to spark a major revolutionary collaboration between academic researchers at the University of Michigan and engineers in industry, particularly with Cadillac engineers and manufacturing workers. The "2 mm" program was a result of their early interaction."

The "2 mm" program focuses on variation reduction in vehicle manufacturing processes, improves final fit and finish, and enhances product quality.

"Gary Cowger and Professor Wu shared a vision of how automotive manufacturing could be significantly enhanced by having University researchers work directly with manufacturing processes using real time data. The overwhelming success of the "2mm" program exemplifies the power of this vision," said Carlson.

The Manufacturing Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have successfully demonstrated leadership skills and have made a profound impact on the manufacturing industry. The award attempts to identify role models for future manufacturing leaders in terms of visionary and strategic thinking, courage and the ability to build a winning team or organization.

"I am very fortunate to have worked closely with Professor Wu over the years. I hold the utmost regard for him, the extraordinary contributions he made to the automotive industry and more importantly, manufacturing education." Cowger said. "I am truly honored to receive this award from Mrs. Wu, whose tireless efforts and dedication have helped to keep Sam's legacy and vision alive."

Cowger leads all of GM's manufacturing operations, including its assembly facilities, metal fabricating division and labor relations activities.

Cowger began his GM career in 1965 and has held a myriad of engineering and manufacturing positions including chairman and managing director of Adam Opel AG; vice president of manufacturing, GM Europe; and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. Cowger is a board member of Adam Opel AG, Saturn Corporation and NUMMI, and serves on the board of trustees at Kettering University and the governing board of Leaders for Manufacturing at MIT.

Introduced in 1999, the award has recognized Robert A. Lutz, chairman, president and CEO of Exide Corporation and newly appointed GM Vice Chairman. In 2000, it was awarded to Joseph C. Day, chairman and CEO of Freudenberg-NOK. The Shien-Ming Wu Foundation was formed in 1993 in memory of the late Professor S.M. Wu, who devoted his life to the research and teaching of manufacturing science and engineering. During his career of more than 30 years, including five years at the University of Michigan, he made extraordinary contributions to the manufacturing industry and academics, mentoring over 124 doctoral and masters students in manufacturing theory. Today, approximately one-quarter of the active faculty in the area of manufacturing theory in the United States trace their educational lineage to Professor Wu.

The Shien-Ming Wu Foundation, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., and established by Professor Wu's widow Daisy, is dedicated to carrying on the legacy of Professor Shien-Ming Wu by promoting research and education in manufacturing engineering. Currently, the foundation sponsors manufacturing research conferences and a biannual distinguished lecture series, as well as a scholarship program for students of manufacturing.

Professor Wu's work also continues through the S.M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center and the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center he helped found at the University of Michigan in 1990. Sharing the same staff and laboratories, these two centers work to generate manufacturing innovations in partnership with industry and government.

To contribute to the Wu Foundation or learn more about its activities, contact: Mrs. Daisy T. Wu at the Shien-Ming Wu Foundation, 415 Riverview Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or contact Professor Jun Ni, director of the S.M. Wu Manufacturing Research Center. Information can also be found on the Internet at http://wumrc.engin.umich.edu.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. GM also operates one of the largest and most successful financial services companies, GMAC, which offers automotive, mortgage and business financing and insurance services to customers worldwide.

In 2000, GM earned $5 billion on sales of $183.3 billion. It employs about 372,000 people globally. More information about General Motors can be found on the Internet at www.gm.com.

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