Whirlpool honors 21 firms

By Tom Stundza -- Purchasing, 11/17/2005

Whirlpool Corp., the appliance manufacturer, rewarded its leading materials providers for U.S. operations at a Supplier Performance Awards Banquet at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center in Benton Harbor, Mich. Hosted by Whirlpool's Global Procurement Organization, these supply chain partners were feted as top-notch suppliers for providing high quality, cost-effective materials, components and other products that demonstrate excellence in quality, delivery, productivity, and innovation.

"The suppliers we partner with are vital in helping us to maintain our status as the world's leading home appliance manufacturer," said Franklin Starn, Whirlpool's vice president for North American procurement.

Out of the company's approximately 700 U.S. suppliers, Whirlpool recognized 21 companies for outstanding performance at the 2005 supplier awards banquet. These suppliers were judged primarily on three criteria: quality of their goods, productivity and material management. "Whirlpool's world-class supply base deserves part of the credit for the success we have achieved the last few years in transforming our company into an innovative industry leader that places the customer front and center of our operations globally," said Jeff Fettig, Whirlpool's chief executive officer.

The companies honored with distinction by Whirlpool, and the products they supply are: Chick Packaging (wood and carton material), Groschopp (motors, pumps), Mercury Plastics (fasteners, extruded plastic), Regional Die Casting (zinc and aluminum castings), Stackpole (powder metal parts and iron castings), American Wire Tech (electrical controls, steel components), Davlyn Manufacturing (seals, insulators, shims), Innovene (plastic resins), Jabil Circuit/Huangpu Hub (electronic components), LCR Electronics (electrical components), Mansfield Industries (steel components), Marubeni America (copper), Noma Cable Tech (copper), Nueva Generación Manufacturas (electrical components), Panasonic Industrial (electrical components and foreign-purchased compressors), PPG Industries (paint), TH Plastics (plastic molded major and minor assembly), Tube Forming (copper components) and Wako Electronics/USA (electrical controls).