Ford Motor Company Honors 41 Global Suppliers With its 2002 World Excellence Awards
* Ford recognizes 41 suppliers with its highest purchasing awards * Ceremony recognizes supplier dedication and superior performance * Awards provide annual recognition based on quality, cost and delivery performance. * Centennial theme reinforces long-term commitment to our customers
DEARBORN, Mich., April 3 -- Ford Motor Company last night awarded its highest supplier honor -- the World Excellence Award -- to 41 suppliers for their superior performance during 2002.
The awards were presented in a ceremony at the Ford Motor Company Conference and Events Center here amid a theme celebrating Ford's Centennial. About 200 of Ford's largest production and non-production suppliers attended the fifth annual event.
"During this special year of our Centennial, we take great delight in honoring our supplier partners for their dedication in helping us build quality into our cars and trucks," said Tony Brown, Ford vice president, Global Purchasing.
The World Excellence Awards provide annual recognition based on quality, cost and delivery performance. Forty-one suppliers from 13 countries won awards in various categories.
The awards were launched with a product presentation by Elena Ford, Ford director, Business Strategy, International Automotive Operations. Emphasizing Ford's product-led revitalization, Ford talked briefly about the company's new models including the new 2004 Ford F-150, the Lincoln Aviator, the Mazda RX-8 and the Volvo XC90, which were on display during the event.
Keynote speaker was Allan Gilmour, Ford vice chairman and chief financial officer, who discussed how building good supplier relationships is critical to Ford's revitalization.
There are three types of World Excellence Awards -- Gold, Silver and Recognition of Achievement. The Gold and Silver Awards are given to suppliers that excel in quality, delivery and cost; 12 suppliers won the Gold Award, and 16 suppliers won the Silver Award.
A Recognition of Achievement Award is given to suppliers who impact customer satisfaction by providing significant contributions in key areas: Corporate Citizenship for Environmental Leadership and for Social Responsibility, High Mileage Improvement, Consumer Driven 6-Sigma, Warranty Reduction and Consumer Focused Technology. Recognition of Achievement Awards went to 13 suppliers.
The Corporate Citizenship Award for Environmental Leadership recognizes a supplier's demonstrated environmental achievement and innovation. The Corporate Citizenship Award for Social Responsibility recognizes suppliers that excel in community involvement and address working conditions issues.
The High Mileage Improvement Award refers to successful completion of a project promoting high-mileage vehicles. The Consumer Driven 6-Sigma Award goes to suppliers that had a black belt lead a project that had a direct impact on Ford customer satisfaction.
Finally, the Warranty Reduction Award recognizes suppliers for excelling in warranty improvement, and Consumer Focused Technology Award recipients have successfully launched Ford-first technologies.
Winners of the Gold Award are: Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. India Private Ltd., India - tubes, hoses Dunlop Goodyear Tires, Ltd., Japan - tires Foster Electric Co., Ltd., Mexico - radio speakers Mako Elektrik Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., Turkey - headlamps & wiper systems Meridian Automotive Systems Inc., United States - metal bumpers Nifco Inc., Japan - fasteners Nittan Valve Co., Ltd., Japan - valves OMG Brasil Ltda., Brazil - automotive catalysts Tokico Ltd., United Sates - shocks Toll Auto Logistics, Australia - logistics Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd., China - power & sub- woofer amplifiers Yazaki Europe Ltd., Sweden - instrument clusters Winners of the Silver Award are: Avon Rubber PLC, United States - hose systems Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd., Taiwan - tires CTA Acoustics, Inc., United States - insulation products Excelda Manufacturing, United States - chemicals Intertec Systems, United States - instrument panels L&W Engineering Co., United States - stampings LDM Technologies, United States - plastic products Lear Corporation, United States - electronic modules & sensors Lear Corporation UK Ltd, United Kingdom - seats Livernois Vehicle Development, United States - garage services LuK North America, United States - clutch components Mark IV Automotive, United States - fuel system tubing Omnigraphics Industrial (Pty) Ltd., South Africa - branding solutions Sertec (Birmingham) Ltd., United Kingdom - bearings SKF Automotive, Mexico - bearings Tenneco Automotive Inc., United States - stabilizer bar assemblies Winners of the Recognition of Achievement awards are: Cross Huller Ltd., United States - New Consumer Focused Technology Dana Corporation, United States - Warranty Reduction Program Decoma International Inc., United States - New Consumer Focused Technology Delphi Corporation, United States - Social Responsibility DuPont Herberts Automotive Systems, United States - New Consumer Focused Technology Johnson Controls, Inc., United States - Consumer Driven 6-Sigma Johnson Controls, Inc., United States - Social Responsibility Johnson Controls, Inc., United States - Warranty Reduction Program Lear Corporation, Germany - Consumer Driven 6-Sigma Midway Products Group, Inc., United States - High Mileage Improvement SKF Automotive, Sweden - Environmental Leadership SSAB Hardtech Inc., Sweden - New Consumer Focused Technology Tenneco Automotive Inc., South Africa - Consumer Driven 6-Sigma
Ford Motor Company is the world's second-largest automaker, with approximately 335,000 employees in 200 markets on six continents. Its automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Financial, Quality Care and Hertz. With world headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., Ford Motor Company officially observes its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.