Johnson Controls Gains Major Recognition with Ford's World Excellence Award
11 May 1999
Johnson Controls Gains Major Recognition with Ford's World Excellence Award
Firm honored among Ford's top suppliers
for minority business development efforts
PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 11 -- Johnson Controls -- a
leading producer of vehicle interior systems -- has been cited as one of Ford
Motor Company's top suppliers in the world for its 1998 performance, as it
gained the automaker's World Excellence Award. A select group of 47 Ford
suppliers were recognized in the awards program, which annually honors
production suppliers for outstanding performance in cost, quality and delivery
-- and for other special achievements.
The automotive business of Johnson Controls gained a prestigious
"Recognition of Achievement" award for excellence in developing minority
suppliers, as it provided overhead systems for Ford vehicles. During the past
several years, Johnson Controls has maintained an industry-leading program to
support minority-owned businesses -- and to recruit them as key sources of
products and services. In 1998, the company purchased more than $116 million
in goods and services from such firms, and the 1999 target is $220 million.
"Johnson Controls is world class -- part of an exclusive club of Ford's
top suppliers," said Carlos Mazzorin, the automaker's vice president of
purchasing and vice president for Ford of Mexico. "The company made
extraordinary contributions to Ford that helped make 1998 a very successful
year, and helped us deliver high quality and value to our customers," he said.
"We're pleased to have received this award from Ford, particularly since
it recognizes us for succeeding in minority supplier development -- an area
that's vitally important to our company and to the automotive industry
overall," said John Barth, president and chief operating officer for Johnson
Controls. "There is no better success than succeeding in the eyes of your
customers and your community."
Of the 47 suppliers cited in Ford's 1998 World Excellence Award program,
25 gained Recognition of Achievement awards in areas including cost
improvement; innovation; minority supplier development; natural disaster
response; quality improvement; supply performance; and warranty reduction.
With facilities throughout the world, Johnson Controls supplies automotive
interior systems and components for a wide range of cars, trucks and vans
produced by Ford Motor Company. Some of the company's most popular vehicles
feature products supplied by Johnson Controls, including Ford F-Series and
Ranger pickups; Expedition, Excursion, Explorer, Windstar minivan, Focus and
Taurus; Lincoln Continental, Town Car, Mark VIII and Navigator; and Mercury
Cougar, Mountaineer, Sable, Mystique and Villager minivan.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 57,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$9.3 billion in sales for the 1998 fiscal year. In model-year 1999, it will
supply interior products for more than 22 million vehicles.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. For non-residential facilities, Johnson
Controls provides building control systems and services, energy management and
integrated facility management. Johnson Controls, founded in 1885, has
headquarters on Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 1998 totaled
US$12.6 billion.
CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, 734-254-5632.
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.
Web site: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.