Lear Recognizes Thirteen Global Suppliers with "Supplier of the Year" Award

SOUTHFIELD, Mich, Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical distribution systems, today announced the presentation of the Lear "Supplier of the Year" Award, the highest honor Lear can bestow upon a supplier, to thirteen suppliers based on their outstanding performance during 2012.

This year's Award recipients demonstrated excellence in quality, innovation, delivery, service and competitiveness during 2012. In addition, this year Lear presented its first award to honor a supplier for their significant contributions to the community.

"The suppliers we recognized today performed at the highest levels during 2012," said Matt Simoncini, Lear's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Providing the best possible cost, quality and value to our customers requires the hard work of thousands of Lear employees working together with all of our suppliers.  We truly appreciate the tremendous support we receive from our supplier partners, and I would like to especially thank this year's award winners," added Simoncini.     

The Lear Suppliers of the Year for 2012 were selected from among the more than 2,000 companies that supply Lear globally and are as follows:

BAE Industries Inc.
BAE is a certified Minority Business Enterprise headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, supplying latch and recliner mechanisms to Lear.  BAE continues to demonstrate commercial flexibility, and supports Lear's operations with world class quality and delivery performance.  Additionally, throughout 2013, BAE will be instrumental in supporting Lear's successful launch of the K2XX program.

This is BAE's 2nd consecutive award for Supplier of the Year and the 5^th award since 2002.

Coficab Tunisie
Coficab is a best-in-class leader in the manufacturing and sales of automotive electrical cables and wires. Coficab is strategically located in Europe, North Africa and is expanding their manufacturing capability in Mexico to compliment Lear's manufacturing locations.

Coficab is a Lear preferred supplier as a result of its intense focus on quality, low cost manufacturing and consistent on time delivery. Understanding the cost pressures of the automotive industry, Coficab is an industry leader in mitigating economic constraints and providing cost savings initiatives to Lear.

Coroplast Fritz Muller GmbH & Co. KG
Specializing in the global manufacture and development of a range of high value special tapes for electrical wiring harnesses, Coroplast continued to exceed Lear's expectations in 2012 with best-in-class customer service, quality and delivery and proactive participation in advance engineering and Cost Technology Optimization initiatives.

Headquartered in Wuppertal, Germany, Coroplast has distribution centers located in regions commensurate with Lear's footprint and has demonstrated exemplary cooperation with Lear.

Grand Rapid Controls LLC
GRC, headquartered in Rockford, Michigan with a global low cost footprint in Asia, and plans to expand into Mexico and Europe, supplies control cables and assemblies to Lear.  GRC had exceptional performance in 2012, with world-class quality and customer service, and demonstrating superior flexibility in addressing and meeting Lear's commercial requirements.

This is GRC's 2nd consecutive award for Supplier of the Year. 

KOA Speer Electronics Inc.
KOA is a Japanese company supplying passive electronic components globally.  KOA is the world's second largest resistor supplier and is known worldwide for their expertise in product performance and quality.  Several years running, KOA has provided Lear outstanding customer support, superior quality and continues to support Lear's push for technological innovation.

In 2012, KOA shipped more than 1 billion parts to Lear with 0 parts rejected globally. This is KOA's 4^th award since 2005. 

Magno International, LP
Magno International, LP is a Minority Business Enterprise specializing in transportation and logistics.  They are an NMSDC certified, Veteran-Owned and a self-certified disabled-owned Minority Business.  They offer a variety of integrated transportation and logistics services including local, national and global air and ocean freight forwarding, time-definite transportation, full truckload and customs brokerage.  Magno International has streamlined the international supply chain for Lear's Apodaca, Mexico electronics plant reducing cost and inventory in the process.  Magno also provides logistics solutions for several other Lear EPMS and Seating plants. 

MSX International Inc.
Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, MSX International (MSXI) is a global provider of customized business solutions and technology services to the automotive industry. Its Human Capital Solutions recruits, administers and supplies talent for global business, leveraging the blended workforce to achieve resource goals.  MSXI applies its expertise in the passionate pursuit of outstanding results, bringing innovative solutions to its customers' complex challenges and unique opportunities.

Since early 2012 MSXI has taken the lead to consolidate seamlessly our temporary labor into one well organized solution.  Their outstanding support of our facilities temporary labor needs has proven time and time again to be effective and well managed providing significant value to our organization.

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Murata is a leading supplier to Lear of passive electronic components. Headquartered in Japan, Murata is a global company that specializes in the design and production of capacitors, inductors and various filter technologies. As a world leader in supplying the automotive industry, Murata has provided Lear with products and services above and beyond expectation.

Murata's commitment to technological innovation, as well as its outstanding customer support and quality, has made it a valued Lear supplier.  In 2012 Murata shipped more than 2 billion parts to Lear with zero parts rejected globally.

This is Murata's 2^nd consecutive award for Supplier of the Year and the 6^th since 2004. 

Netlink Software Group America Inc.
Netlink is a premier provider of information technology, supply chain and business process solutions, headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan.  Netlink has a global presence spanning 42 countries and 6 continents and is also a Certified Minority Business Enterprise. Netlink has been leveraging its broad offering portfolio to provide several unique solutions to Lear that generate immediate business results.

Netlink's commitment to serve the Detroit, Michigan and surrounding communities through their support of various not-for-profit organizations, such as VIP (Very Important Person) Mentoring and Netlink Foundation a children's rights organization, make them the award winner of the first ever Lear supplier "Community Service" award. 

Nifco Inc.
Nifco, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan is known as a global leader in engineered plastic parts.  Founded in 1967, Nifco's 26 locations in 15 countries provide various solutions to the automotive industry in the areas of engineered plastics, fuel components, mechanized storage systems and latches.  With its strong global manufacturing footprint, Nifco provides Lear with logistically favorable options, while maintaining a competitive cost structure.  As a result, Nifco has become a supplier of choice to Lear in the area of engineered plastics.

Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.
Ningbo Jifeng, headquartered in Ningbo, China, provides strong support for Lear's global operations, supplying to over a dozen Lear plants in 7 countries. Specialized in headrest assemblies, armrest assemblies, and headrest rods, Ningbo Jifeng strives to consistently outperform its peers in quality, technical expertise, customer service and delivery and has because one of Lear's most reliable suppliers.

Panalpina, Inc.
The Panalpina Group is one of the world's leading providers of supply chain solutions, combining intercontinental Air and Ocean Freight with comprehensive Value-Added Logistics Services and Supply Chain Services. Thanks to its in-depth industry know-how and customized IT systems, Panalpina provides globally integrated end-to-end solutions tailored to its customers' supply chain management needs.  Panalpina is a provider of ocean, air, logistics and value-added solutions to Lear Corporation across both the Seating and Electrical Power Management Systems Divisions, and serves Lear facilities located around the world.

W.E.T. Automotive Systems AG
W.E.T., headquartered in Germany, and with a global low cost footprint in Asia, Mexico and Ukraine, supplies seat heat and climate modules to Lear's global operations.  W.E.T. continues to demonstrate customer focused service, innovative and cost effective technology, and superior commercial flexibility. W.E.T. is able to utilize its technical resources to maximize results, and consistently meet Lear's requirements.

This is W.E.T Automotives' 2^nd award for Supplier of the Year since 2003.

Lear Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating and electrical power management systems. The Company's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of approximately 113,400 employees located in 36 countries. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan, and Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA]. Further information about Lear is available at lear.com.

SOURCE Lear Corporation