Johnson Controls Earns '1999 Corporate Citizenship Award' from Ford Motor Company
18 November 1999
Johnson Controls Earns '1999 Corporate Citizenship Award' from Ford Motor Company
Company earns top award from automaker
for supporting, developing minority firms in U.S.
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Nov. 18 -- Johnson Controls was
recognized by Ford Motor Company with its 1999 Corporate Citizenship Award for
the supplier's strong commitment to supporting and doing business with
minority-owned companies.
Johnson Controls, a major, global manufacturer of automotive interior
systems, has a formal program to recruit and develop minority-owned suppliers.
In 1999, the company purchased more than $235 million in goods and services
from minority-owned firms, a figure that's expected to grow to $317 million in
fiscal-year 2000.
Senior officials from the automaker presented the award to Johnson
Controls during an annual recognition dinner, held last week in Dearborn,
Michigan. Representatives from more than 100 suppliers attended the event.
"We're honored to receive this award from Ford because it says our efforts
to create a strong minority supplier development program have been
successful," said Larry Alles, vice president of purchasing - worldwide for
Johnson Controls. "Our company is committed to promoting diversity, building
strong partnerships with minority firms, and expanding minority supplier
development efforts in the years to come."
Ford officials said Johnson Controls received the award -- presented
annually to a "tier-one" supplier -- for its successful minority supplier
development program. The company shares Ford's vision and commitment to
expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses, according to the
automaker.
Ford has presented its Corporate Citizenship Award each year since 1996 to
reinforce development of minority businesses and communities.
In September, Johnson Controls gained Corporation of the Year recognition
from the Michigan Minority Business Development Corporation (MMBDC) for the
third time in the past four years. MMBDC, a voluntary organization with more
than 1,000 members, works to create links between major automotive companies
and minority businesses.
Johnson Controls' recent activities and achievements in support of
minority-owned firms illustrate a record of success.
The company...
* Has integrated "minority business development" as a key component of
its strategic business plan. Purchases from minority-owned companies are
targeted to grow each year.
* Increased its level of purchasing from minority suppliers by more than
100 percent between 1998 to 1999, from $116 million to $235 million.
* Requires its vendors to develop and implement their own minority
business development programs.
* Has developed successful partnerships in support of minority
businesses. For example, Johnson Controls is a joint-venture partner in
Bridgewater Interiors, LLC of Detroit, a minority-owned firm with a $900
million contract to supply complete seat systems for model-year 2000 Cadillac
DeVille vehicles.
* Sponsors educational fellowships for officials from minority-owned
firms. In both 1998 and 1999, Johnson Controls funded MMBDC fellowships that
enabled executives to attend special programs at the graduate business school
of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
* Convenes trade shows and other events to encourage companies to
purchase goods and services from minority firms.
* Provides ongoing mentoring and training to minority suppliers.
* Recently launched a private web site on the Internet that helps Johnson
Controls employees, customers and suppliers link-up with minority suppliers.
* Helped Ford design its new, on-line minority reporting system for
'tier-two' suppliers.
* Provides internships for students and professional speakers for the
Ford Academy of Manufacturing Sciences.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$12.1 billion in sales for the 1998 fiscal year. For model-year 2000, the
company supplied interior products for more than 22 million vehicles. It is a
leading innovator and top producer of fully integrated vehicle overhead
systems.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. 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 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 1999
totaled US$16.1 billion.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and
additional company information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web
at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com ./
/CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, Inc., 734-254-5632/
/Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
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