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Chrysler Honors Top Suppliers

12 December 1997

Chrysler Honors Top Suppliers

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 12 -- Chrysler Corporation
honored 18 of its suppliers with the company's highest honor, the
1997 Platinum Pentastar Award, at an awards ceremony yesterday evening hosted
by Robert J. Eaton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and
Thomas T. Stallkamp, Executive Vice President, Procurement and Supply, at the
Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Mich.
    In addition, seven suppliers were awarded the company's prestigious Role
Model Award.  Platinum Pentastar Awards are awarded to suppliers for
outstanding overall performance, while Role Model Awards are given to
suppliers for exemplary performance in a specific area.
    The awards are the culmination of Chrysler Procurement and Supply's annual
evaluation process of the company's Extended Enterprise, the hundreds of
suppliers who work with Chrysler as a team to bring cars and trucks to market.
    "The celebration tonight tells me there's an understanding of the process
we're trying to build which encourages the entire supply chain to work
together, cooperatively, to build better products," said Eaton.  "That's not
to say the journey is complete -- there is a long way to go.  However, it also
signals to me we're doing a good job in establishing the atmosphere of
communication and trust that's absolutely critical to the success of the
Extended Enterprise."
    Stallkamp applauded the accomplishments of the award-winning suppliers and
noted this year's recipients of the Platinum Pentastar Award included nine
production-based suppliers, the most ever in the Award's history.
    "The Suppliers honored tonight leave here with more than awards -- they
also have our respect," said Stallkamp.  "They've demonstrated that they are
willing to work with us to try and change the way we do business in the United
States.  That's the most exciting, most rewarding and at the same time, the
most challenging part of building and perfecting the Extended Enterprise.
    "I believe the message is clear -- our version of the Extended Enterprise
is working, and, with the continued commitment of both Chrysler and our
Suppliers, it can only get better and better."
    Platinum Pentastar Award winners were rated as "excellent" in the
following categories:  Cost Reduction, Customer Support, Delivery, Price,
Quality, Technology and Warranty.  Role Model Award recipients were recognized
as the best performers in one of seven categories:  Continuous Improvement,
Delivery, Extended Enterprise, Quality, SCORE (Supplier Cost Reduction
Effort), Special Supplier Development and Technology.

    Production Suppliers Receiving Chrysler's 1997 Platinum Pentastar Award
are:
    *EGI Incorporated, Dayton, Ohio
    FAG Automotive, Inc., Stratford, Ontario, Canada and Joplin, Mo.
    Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, Mich.
    Miniature Precision Components, Inc., Walworth, Wisc.
    NGK Spark Plug, Ltd., Komaki, Japan and Sissonville, W.Va.
    Ring Screw Works, Madison Heights, Mich.
    The NARMCO Group, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
    The Timken Company, Canton, Ohio
    Veltri Metal Products, Troy, Mich.

    Non-Production Suppliers Receiving Chrysler's 1997 Platinum Pentastar
Award are:
    Aaron's Automotive Products, Inc., Springfield, Mo.
    J.S. Alberici Construction Company, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.
    Dearborn Mid-West Conveyor Company, Detroit, Mich.
    OmniSource, Fort Wayne, Ind.
    Progressive Tool & Industries Company, Southfield, Mich.
    Sekely Industries, Inc., Salem, Ohio
    Tandem Transport, Inc.,/JDC, Franklin, Wisc.
    Tweddle Litho Company, Clinton Township, Mich.
    Walbridge Aldinger Company, Detroit

    Recipients of Chrysler's 1997 Role Model Awards are:
    *Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. (Continuous Improvement), Auburn
     Hills, Mich.
    MNP Corporation (Delivery), Utica, Mich.
    Johnson Controls, Inc. (Extended Enterprise), Plymouth, Mich.
    MPI International, Inc. (Quality), Rochester Hills, Mich.
    PPG Industries (SCORE), Pittsburgh
    Magna International (Special Supplier Development), Aurora, Ontario,
    Canada
    Cascade Engineering, Inc. (Technology), Grand Rapids, Mich.

    *Minority-owned Suppliers.  Please note:  EGI Incorporated is the first
minority-owned Supplier to win Chrysler's Platinum Pentastar Award.

SOURCE  Chrysler Corporation