Daimler AG awarded prizes to 14 companies for their outstanding achievements at the first Key Supplier Meeting, which was held on March 12, 2009 at the Mercedes-Benz Center in Stuttgart. For the first time ever, the awards included a prize for innovation. In addition, the new “Daimler Supplier Network” cooperation model was also presented to the supplier companies during the meeting. The new model is aimed at establishing an even closer partnership with selected suppliers.
According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, “Performance is based on partnership. Our goal is to work together with our suppliers towards our common success in the long term. This is why we are launching the new Daimler Supplier Network cooperation model together with you.”
The host of the event was Bodo Uebber, Board of Management member of Daimler AG responsible for Finance & Controlling as well as Procurement. Key suppliers of the Daimler Group were invited. Overall, the event was attended by around 500 internal and external guests. Bodo Uebber congratulated the prizewinners on their extraordinary achievements: “Your exceptional commitment deserves our appreciation and recognition.”
In the business divisions of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans and Daimler Trucks and Buses, prizes were awarded in the categories Exterior, Interior, Electrics/Electronics, Chassis, and Powertrain. In addition, in the International Procurement Services division, there were three awards for IT, General Goods & Services, Manufacturing Equipment & Services, and Construction and Facility Management. All winners were selected on the basis of a performance assessment that is standardized worldwide. For the first time ever, a special “Innovation” prize was also awarded. The idea behind this new award is to honor a company, which has a special commitment to exploring new avenues.
The winners of the Daimler Supplier Award 2008 (listed by the respective divisions and categories) were:
Daimler Trucks and Buses
Exterior: Mekra Lang GmbH & Co. KG, Deutschland
Interior: Denso Corporation, Japan
Electrics/Electronics: Eugen Forschner GmbH, Deutschland
Chassis: Kamax GmbH & Co. KG, Deutschland
Powertrain: Exedy Corporation, Japan
Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans
Exterior: Gestamp Automocià³n, Spanien
Interior: Autoliv Inc., Deutschland
Electrics/Electronics: Marquardt GmbH, Deutschland
Chassis: Borbet Group, à–sterreich
Powertrain: Friedrich Boysen GmbH & Co. KG, Deutschland
International Procurement Services
Construction and Facility Management: Siegle + Epple GmbH & Co. KG, Deutschland
IT, General Goods & Services: Bertrandt Technikum GmbH, Deutschland
Manufacturing Equipment & Services: Still GmbH, Deutschland
Special Award
Innovation: Trumpf GmbH & Co. KG, Deutschland
Daimler Supplier Network
Dr. Heinrich Reidelbach, Head of Corporate Procurement Services, Frank Deiss, Head of Procurement at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans, and Stefan Buchner, Head of Procurement at Daimler Trucks and Buses, gave a detailed presentation of the new “Daimler Supplier Network” cooperation model, which replaces the current “Extended Enterprise” cooperation model. With the new model, Corporate Procurement Services will define the basis for future cooperation between Daimler AG and its suppliers with a view to the mutual and continuous improvement of global procurement and supplier activities. The central values of the cooperation are fairness, reliability, and credibility. Adopting “Commitment to Excellence” as its motto, the new cooperation model emphasizes the notion of performance-based partnership: Daimler is striving for further improvements in the fields of quality, costs, punctual delivery, and also technology and innovation. For the suppliers, the trust-based cooperation entails significant benefits in terms of dependability, transparency, planning stability, and, last but not least, extended business opportunities.
A fundamentally new aspect of the model is the classification of suppliers into three segments. The smallest and most exclusive group is comprised of the strategic partners, followed by the key suppliers and the large basis of all suppliers. Classification into these three segments is based on the criteria of purchasing volume, performance, and innovative strength on the part of the suppliers. The more intensive the cooperation between Daimler and a given supplier, the greater the mutual expectations and obligations. This also includes their involvement in the development of new technologies.