Automotive switch maker Methode Electronics Malta Limited has been named a General Motors Supplier of the Year, the company announced last week.
GM, the world's largest carmaker, is a major customer of the Mriehel-based subsidiary of the American Methode Electronics, Inc. The award, for Methode Malta's excellent quality performance on cross car line applications as well as outstanding on-site project and engineering support, was given during a lavish ceremony on April 27 in Toronto, Canada. It was hosted by GM chairman Jack Smith, who was accompanied by top company executives.
"Methode Electronics Malta Ltd is an industry role model," Bo Anderson, vice-president, GM Worldwide Purchasing Production Control and Logistics, said. "Through its performance it has set an example during the past year for other companies to follow. It is a pleasure to work with a company that excels at meeting our priorities for quality, service, technology and competitive pricing."
According to David Mifsud, Methode Electronics Malta managing director: "Winning this award in the face of stiff competition and the high standards set by General Motors is a huge achievement for us.
"It is also a source of immense satisfaction for all our associates as well as being a milestone for Maltese Industry in terms of world class manufacturing and exporting performance. With a sense of pride and achievement we therefore look forward to increasing our presence within GM on a world-wide basis."
The GM Supplier of the Year award began as a global programme in 1992. Award winners are selected by a global team of executives from purchasing, engineering, manufacturing and logistics who base their decisions on supplier performance in the four areas of quality, service, technology and price.
This year, General Motors honoured 91 suppliers from 18 countries for their excellence during 2001. The award is publicised in various trade publications and raises their profile immeasurably in the industry.
Methode Malta last year supplied some 15 million switches to GM, either directly or to its various auto-making subsidiaries. Pedal box switches made up 19% of sales, which went to GM, Saturn, Saab, Opel, Holden in Australia, GM Brazil, GM Poland and GM India.
Door light switches, making up 38% of sales, went to all these companies along with GM Thailand; and Methode's famed ignition starter, which made up 24% of sales, went to GM, Opel, Suzuki, representing new business, Holden, GM Brazil, GM Thailand and GM Poland.
Through the GM link, Methode has gained new business for the first time with Fiat Auto for its Alfa Romeo 156 replacement, supplying headlamp switches, hazard switches, start/stop switches, window lifter switches and instrument panel switches.
Other switches Methode also supplies to various GM subsidiaries include glove box switches, park shift lock switches for automatic gearboxes, park position switches and other instrument panel switches.
A spokesman for Methode Malta told The Sunday Times that one of the major benefits of the GM quality award is the nomination of a senior executive at GM to the post of 'ambassador' with responsibility for keeping a keen eye on developing closer business links with Methode Malta.
This is an indication of GM's commitment to creating a long-term, performance-based relationship with a small core group of elite suppliers. The award, won in the face of fierce competition, will give Methode Malta a greater presence both in Europe and the US. Methode not only had to show its plans to meet/exceed its commercial and technical productivity targets for this year but also its productivity targets and plans for 2003.
Based in suburban Chicago, Methode Electronics, Inc. is a global manufacturer of component and subsystems devices. The company designs, manufactures and markets devices employing electrical, electronic, wireless, sensing and optical technologies. Following its acquisition of the innovative switch-maker Merit-Malta in 1997, Methode gained a valuable partner in Malta.
Methode Electronics Malta Ltd is heavily vertically integrated, including engineering and R&D, product and tool design, rapid prototyping, a fully equipped laboratory, injection moulding, stamping, plating, and automated assembly lines.
Further vertical integration will include a fully automated painting line assembly, incorporating laser etching technology.
A new 4,000 m2 extension was has just been completed at the Mriehel factory housing its laboratories, quality, engineering and administration departments. Last November the company obtained ISO 16949, the latest automotive quality management system, which is recognised by all the major automakers worldwide, a month before it obtained ISO 14001, and the environment management quality system.
In March last year, Methode Malta also received a Recognition of Achievement Award in the Ford 2000 World Excellence Awards for high mileage improvement.