ERLANGER, Ky. (March 16, 2016)  – Toyota suppliers FUEL TOTAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION of Lebanon, KY; OTICS, USA, Inc. of Morristown, TN; Somic America, Inc. of Brewer, ME; Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc. of Bowling Green, KY; and Taiho Manufacturing of Tennessee LLC of Gordonsville, TN; received the company’s highest supplier recognition, the Superior Award for Quality during its Annual Supplier Business Meeting Tuesday, March 15, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington.  One supplier, NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTING, MÉXICO-SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, SLC, received the Superior Award for Launch Performance.

"Toyota collaborates with each of our supplier partners in order to build vehicles with the high quality, safety, and reliability standards that our customers expect, said Toyota Purchasing Senior Vice President Bob Young. This event highlights our supplier partners’ commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration to build ‘ever better cars’ in North America.   We are pleased to recognize those in our supply base who exceed our high performance targets and thank their team members for their tremendous support and partnership.”

Additionally, 42 supplier companies received Awards of Excellence or Special Recognition in categories including; supplier diversity, value improvement, value analysis achievement, quality, technology and development and launch performance for the 2016 Toyota Tacoma (see chart below).

During the meeting, Toyota addressed business objectives and goals in preparation for the new fiscal year beginning April 1.  Toyota Technical Center President Seiya Nakao attended the meeting as well as executives from Toyota’s 14 North American manufacturing facilities.  The meeting brings together approximately 1,000 attendees from across North America.

Toyota spends over $32 billion annually on supplier parts, goods and services in North America.  This volume of business creates more than 60,000 jobs across 30 states.