Cooper-Standard Automotive's Kunshan, China Plant Wins Ford Motor Co. Supplier Quality Award

NOVI, Mich., April 30 -- Cooper-Standard Automotive's Kunshan, China facility recently received Ford Motor Co.'s distinguished Q1 Award, which recognizes preferred suppliers that have sustained high levels of performance. The receipt of the Ford Q1 Award by the Kunshan facility marks the first time Cooper-Standard has earned the Q1 Award in China.

The Ford Q1 Award -- which is presented to preferred suppliers who exhibit sustained levels of high-performance metrics, including quality, reliability, material management and engineering services resulting in superior customer satisfaction -- was presented by Ford's Victor Chen and Carroll Pickett to Chris Laycoe and Dajun Duan of Cooper-Standard, during a recent award ceremony in Kunshan.

"The Ford Q1 Award is a great honor, as it acknowledges the hard work of our employees who contribute to the plant's daily success," said Joe Emmi, vice president and managing director of Asian operations for Cooper-Standard Automotive. "This award marks a significant milestone and confirms Cooper-Standard Automotive as a strong player in the Asian markets."

To apply for the Ford Q1 Award, the Kunshan facility had to first qualify by passing a MMOG (Material Management Operations Guidelines) Level A Audit by earning a sufficient customer score. Once qualified, testing for the Q1 Award was comprised of three components, including: a manufacturing site assessment; capable system certifications / endorsements; and ongoing performance evaluation based on overall site PPM (parts per million), production and service part delivery performance.

Cooper-Standard's Kunshan plant, which began production in 2006, serves as the company's Asia-Pacific headquarters and produces fluid, body and chassis products. Employing more than 250 employees, the facility supplies bushings, engine mounts, body mounts, bumpers, vacuum lines, fuel lines and brake lines to various automaker platforms, as well as industrial construction components.