The official presentation of the GM Supplier of the Year Award, announced in Canada last June, was held last Tuesday during a company briefing held at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard.

David Mifsud, managing director of Methode Electronics Malta Ltd, received the GM Supplier of the Year Award from Gregory L. Fredericksen, executive director Purchasing for GM-FIAT Worldwide Purchasing, in the presence of Methode Malta's 600 employees.

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 quality, service, technology and price.

During the company brief, which is held every six months, Mr Mifsud updated employees on the company's performance, as well as future plans and strategies which will maintain Methode Malta among the leading suppliers to the automotive industry wordwide.

Mr Fredericksen congratulated Methode Malta for the award. "You truly have set yourselves apart from the rest of the supply base," he said, adding that Methode Malta was "doing all the right things to make both (the) company and General Motors successful for many years to come".

GM, on its part, intends to fulfil its undertaking in Toronto to help Supplier of the Year winners to get more of its business because "you are who we want to do business with".

Mr Fredericksen then outlined GM's priorities to act as one company and its product focus through its people, culture and values, and identified the three elements GM admired most in its Suppliers of the Year.

These are their superior competitive advantage, organisational capability and culture. All this leads to sustained contribution and value to GM.

Methode Malta is one of just 91 suppliers to receive this prestigious award. Speaking to The Sunday Times after the briefing, Mr Fredericksen, who was on his first visit to Malta, said he was impressed with the performance from Methode Malta and indicated that the company was on track for yet another award even during the current year.