Construction Equipment Guide
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800-523-2200
Tue February 08, 2005 - National Edition
GKN Sinter Metals has been named Supplier of the Year by Deere & Company’s Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division, and for the third consecutive year has earned recognition as a “Partner-level supplier” in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program.
GKN Sinter Metals’ Kersey, PA, facility’s performance was rated the best of all direct material suppliers to John Deere’s Commercial and Consumer Equipment Division. GKN’s commitment to Six-Sigma process improvement resulted in near-perfect quality and delivery to John Deere factories in 2004.
The “Partner-level” status is Deere & Company’s highest supplier rating. The Auburn Hills-based company was selected for the honor in recognition of its dedication to providing products and service of outstanding quality as well as its commitment to continuous improvement.
Utpaul Gangopadhyay, GKN Sinter Metal’s director of Product Engineering and Sales, Industrial Products Group, said he is proud of the Kersey team’s accomplishment. “Being named the best supplier for a company like John Deere is not an easy task. They expect a great deal from their suppliers, and our employees work diligently every day to make sure they get it.”
GKN Sinter Metals supplies John Deere facilities in Horicon, WI; Fuquay-Varina, NC; Augusta, GA and Greeneville, TN, with steering sector gears, PTO arms, cruise control latches, pinion gears, bearings, bushings, blade adapters and spindle components for riding lawn mowers. Kersey employees will be formerly honored with the recognition during Deere’s annual supplier award ceremonies in Davenport, IA, in March.
Suppliers who participate in John Deere’s Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, which is a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement.
GKN Sinter Metals, with more than 30 locations worldwide and business assets spanning 13 countries and five continents is a leading producer of powder metal components. GKN Sinter Metals is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.K.-based GKN plc, a global industrial company.