The Automotive Industries' Fab Fifty Suppliers

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 20 -- The June Issue of Automotive Industries announces results of the 6th Annual Quest for Excellence, a survey of thousands of OEM readers to determine what companies are regarded as the top suppliers in the industry. Readers were asked to rate the performance of nearly 300 companies with respect to quality, innovation, price, delivery and service/support. Over 1000 responses were received and tabulated to determine the AI Fab Fifty Suppliers, and within that group the Top Ten.

According to Rob Wilson, publisher of Automotive Industries, "It is the fierce competition in auto building that drives the need for continual improvement in quality and price and that aspect only becomes more acute with time. By working smarter and applying lean efficient systems to every direct and indirect business activity involved, higher levels of quality must be achieved while lowering costs. Though it taxes normal logic, the best suppliers know how to drive these factors in opposite directions."

The survey was conducted only among OEM readers to prevent suppliers from voting for themselves. Readers were asked to rate suppliers on a scale of 0 to 5; 0 = poor and 5 = excellent. "There is no question that the larger multi- product, systems and system integrators have an advantage in the polling," continues Wilson, "but many suppliers with a fairly narrow product line also bubble to the top. Their Quest for Excellence is unimpeded by size or scope. They have a particularly well-honed core competency coupled with good execution that cannot be denied. They are obviously known and respected for what they do so well. And they received high marks accordingly. Our readers have spoken. Here are The Fab Fifty for 2003."

   The 2003 Fab Fifty Suppliers

   3M Automotive
   A. G. Simpson
   Alcoa
   American Axle & Manufacturing
   Arvin Meritor Inc.
   Behr America Inc.
   Borg Warner Inc.
   Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.
   Collins & Aikman Corp.
   Continental Teves Inc.

   Cummins Engine Co.
   Dana Corp.
   Delco Remy America Inc.
   Delphi Corp.
   Denso International Inc.
   Dow Automotive
   DuPont Automotive
   Dura Automotive Systems
   Eaton Corp.
   Federal-Mogul Corp.

   Freudenberg-NOK
   GE Plastics
   GKN Automotive
   Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
   Guardian Automotive Corp.
   Hayes Lemmerz International
   Hella North America Inc.
   IBM
   Johnson Controls Inc.
   Key Plastics LLC

   Lear Corp.
   Magna Donnelly Corp.
   Metaldyne
   Michelin North America Inc.
   Microsoft Corp.
   Motorola Inc.
   Panasonic Automotive Electronics
   Parker Hannifin
   PPG Industries
   Robert Bosch

   Siemens VDO Automotive Corp.
   Teleflex Automotive Group
   Tenneco Automotive
   Timken Company
   TRW Automotive
   United States Steel
   Valeo Inc.
   Visteon Corp.
   Yazaki North America Inc.
   ZF Group NAO

   Top Ten Suppliers

   3M Automotive
   Arvin Meritor Inc.
   Dana Corp.
   Delphi Corp.
   DuPont Automotive
   Johnson Controls Inc.
   Parker Hannifin
   PPG Industries
   Robert Bosch Corp.
   TRW Automotive

Based in Southfield, Michigan, Automotive Industries has been published continuously since 1895. It is owned and published by Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications, Waukesha, Wisconsin, of which Rob Wilson is president.