Johnson Controls honors top-performing auto suppliers

Johnson Controls recognized its 32 top-performing automotive suppliers at a celebration event held at the company's technical center in Holland, Mich. Thirty-four awards were presented to supply companies that have shown exceptional performance, leadership and innovation in their work during the past year for the interior experience business of Johnson Controls.

"These awards are designed to honor the innovation, commitment and outstanding work completed during the past year by the top companies in our supply base," said Terry Nadeau, vice president and general manager of North American Purchasing for Johnson Controls. "It's very important for us to recognize suppliers who have helped Johnson Controls to exceed our customers' expectations."

Johnson Controls' Supplier Performance Awards are presented annually for performance encompassing four key business areas: quality; commercial; material and logistics; and service and engineering support. Outstanding performance by the company's supply base is recognized on three levels – gold, silver and bronze.

Recipients of the Gold 2006 Supplier Performance Award were:

• Alex Products Inc. (Ridgeville Corners, Ohio)
• Automatic Spring Products Inc. (Grand Haven, Mich.)
• Creative Foam Corporation (Fenton, Mich.)
• E&E Manufacturing Company Inc. (Plymouth, Mich.)
• Global Enterprises (Huntington Woods, Mich.)
• Innotec Corporation (Zeeland, Mich.)
• The Oakwood Group (Dearborn, Mich.)
• Superior Roll Forming Company (Valley City, Ohio)
• W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd. (Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Silver 2006 Supplier Performance Award recipients were:

• Acoustek Nonwovens (Troy, Mich.)
• Avery Dennison (Strongsville, Ohio)
• Argent Automotive (Plymouth, Mich.)
• CNI Inc. (Madison Heights, Mich.)
• Gill Manufacturing Inc. (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
• Integrated Logistics Solutions (Livonia, Mich.)
• Irvin Automotive (Pontiac, Mich.)
• Kenwal Steel Corporation (Dearborn, Mich.)
• Legget & Platt Inc. (Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada)
• Manufacturers Industrial Group (Lexington, Tenn.)
• Quality Screw and Nut Industries (Bensenville, Ill.)
• The Gemini Group (Clawson, Mich.)
• Thistle Molded Group LLC (East Troy, Wis.)
• U.S. Farathane (Sterling Heights, Mich.)
• Ventura Manufacturing (Zeeland, Mich.)
• Yazaki (Canton, Mich.)

Recipients of the Bronze 2006 Supplier Performance Award were:

• Enerflex Solutions (Troy, Mich.)
• Foamex (Novi, Mich.)
• Guelph Tool Inc. (Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
• Oji Intertech Inc. (North Manchester, Ind.)
• Seton Leather Company (Troy, Mich.)

During the Supplier Performance Awards event, Johnson Controls officials also presented four value-based leadership awards for 2006 – including the Community Partnership Award, the Innovation Leadership Award, the Minority Business Development Leadership Award and the Strategic Collaboration Leadership Award.

RCO Engineering of Roseville, Mich., was honored with the Community Partnership Award. This award recognizes the company that has worked in partnership most often with Johnson Controls to serve and support the local community.

The Innovation Leadership Award was presented to Bayer Material Science of Auburn Hills, Mich. It is given annually to the supplier that displayed exemplary leadership in working with Johnson Controls to bring product innovation to the market.

Kenwal Steel Corporation of Dearborn, Mich., was recognized with the Minority Business Development Leadership Award, for its level of minority purchases and process of working with minority suppliers.

Gill Manufacturing of Grand Rapids, Mich., was given the Strategic Collaboration Award, which is granted to the company that takes a leadership role and works closely with Johnson Controls to support the company's supplier enterprise strategy.

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise.