Quality Digest

(Ford Motor Co.: Dearborn, Michigan) -- Ford Motor Co. recently awarded its highest supplier honor—the World Excellence Award—to 55 of its global suppliers for their exemplary performance in 2006. More than 150 people, including Ford’s largest production and nonproduction global suppliers, attended the ninth-annual event at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, on April 17. The World Excellence Awards recognize suppliers that not only achieve the highest levels of cost, quality and delivery, but recognize the diverse cultures, values, and ideas of the thousands of individuals they employ.

“We appreciate the contributions that these award-winning suppliers have made to Ford Motor Co., and applaud them for their hard work and dedication,” says Tony Brown, senior vice president, global purchasing. “Their efforts have positively impacted customer satisfaction.”

The keynote speaker was Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co. president and chief executive officer, who said Ford and its suppliers are working together to reach common goals.

“Together, we are one team working on one plan with one goal in mind—build the products people really want to create profitable growth for everyone associated with our wonderful Ford Motor Co.,” Mulally said. “We can ensure a viable Ford Motor Co. and a vibrant automobile industry if we go forward together.”

There are three levels of World Excellence Awards—Gold, Silver and Recognition of Achievement. The Gold and Silver Awards are given to suppliers that excel in quality, cost and delivery; 15 Gold Awards and 34 Silver Awards were presented.

The Recognition of Achievement Award is given to suppliers that improve customer satisfaction by providing significant contributions in key areas: New Consumer-Focused Technology, Consumer-Driven Six Sigma, Durability and Reliability Performance, Corporate Responsibility, and Diversity and Community Service. Six suppliers received Recognition of Achievement Awards.

Suppliers earning the Gold Award are:

• ArvinMeritor Inc.; Almussafes, Spain
• Autoliv BKI S.A.; La Pobla de Vallbona, Spain
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Tondela, Portugal
• Durakon Industries; Lapeer, Michigan
• Ewie Co. Inc.; Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Faurecia Interior Systems; Koln, Germany
• Fujikura Ltd.; Yamagata, Japan
• Intier Automotive Seating; Eastleigh, England
• Intier Automotive Seating; Excelsior Springs, Missouri
• Johnson Controls Inc.; Shelbyville, Kentucky
• Lear Corporation; Genk, Belgium
• Ronal Polska Sp. z o.o.; Walbrzych, Poland
• Stena Gotthard AB; Goteborg, Sweden
• Superior Industries International Inc.; Pittsburg, Kansas
• TRW Polska Sp. z o.o.; Czestochowa, Poland

Suppliers earning the Silver Award are:

• Aristeo Construction Co.; Livonia, Michigan
• Autoliv B.V. & Co. KG; Dachau, Germany
• Autoliv North America; Columbia City, Indiana
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Saarwellingen, Germany
• Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG; Santa Margarida, Spain
• Continental Automotive Mexicana S.A. de C.V.; Silao, Mexico
• Dalphi Metal Internacional, S.A.; Silla, Spain
• Delphi Corp.; New Castle, Indiana
• Denso Manufacturing Athens Tennessee Inc.; Athens, Tennessee
• Dr. Franz Schneider, S.A.; Valencia, Spain
• Elanders Infologistics Vast AB; Goteborg, Sweden
• Ewie Canada Co.; Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• Faurecia Interior Systems; Valencia, Spain
• Flex-N-Gate Battle Creek; Battle Creek, Michigan
• Grupo Antolin-Dapsa , S.A.; Burgos, Spain
• Grupo Antolin-Logistik Deutschland, GmbH; Koln, Germany
• Hayes Lemmerz Autokola A.S.; Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Hayes Lemmerz International – Frenos, S.A. de C.V.; Apodaca, Mexico
• Hella Autotechnik, Ltd.; Mohelnice, Czech Republic
• International Automotive Components; Koln, Germany
• Johnson Controls Inc.; Hudson, Wisconsin
• Latcha + Associates; Farmington Hills, Michigan
• Lear Corp.; St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
• Linde Creighton Ltd.; West Midlands, England
• Litens Automotive GmbH; Gelnhausen, Germany
• Magna Closures; Pisa, Italy
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Nagano, Japan
• P&A Industries Inc.; Findlay, Ohio
• Rehau AG + Co.; Viechtach, Germany
• Sanden Corp.; Gunma, Japan
• Sanyo Automotive Inc.; Penang, Malaysia
• Stenco Construction Co., L.L.C.; Livonia, Michigan
• Tenneco Inc.; Valencia, Spain
• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ilsenburg GmbH; Ilsenburg, Germany

Suppliers earning the Recognition of Achievement Awards are:

• Autoliv Sverige AB (New Consumer-Focused Technology)
• Denso Corp. (Durability and Reliability Performance)
• Johnson Controls Inc. (Corporate Responsibility)
• Kelly Services Inc. (Diversity and Community Service)
• Lear Corp. (Consumer-Driven Six Sigma)
• Novelis Inc. (New Consumer-Focused Technology)

For more information, visit http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=25874.