Hankook, Metzeler, Nishikawa Standard earn Ford awards

Dearborn, Michigan - Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., Nishikawa Standard Co. and Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems earned Ford Motor Co.'s supplier quality awards for 2005 at a presentation in Dearborn this week.

South Korea's Hankook earned Ford's Gold Award for superior quality, cost and delivery. It was the only tyre company recognised. Ford made 13 Gold awards this year.

Nishikawa Standard - a joint venture between Cooper Standard Automotive Inc. and Japan´s Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd. - earned Silver Awards for weatherstripping plants in Bremen and New Haven, Ind. Likewise, Metzeler earned a silver award for its Gomez Palacia, Mexico, plant.

Hankook also is one of only two tyre makers recognised thus far by Ford as "strategic" supplier partners under its Aligned Business Framework programme designed to strengthen collaboration and develop a sustainable business model to drive mutual profitability and technology development.

"Our World Excellence Award-winning suppliers are integral in our ability to address the needs of our customers today and tomorrow," said Thomas Brown, Ford senior vice president, global purchasing, at ceremonies in Dearborn. "We are grateful for their ceaseless concentration on delivering value."

Ford also singled out Freudenberg NOK G.P. with a Recognition of Achievement Award - given to suppliers that impact customer satisfaction by providing significant contributions in key areas - for its "Consumer-Driven Six-Sigma" efforts.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Press release from Ford