Caterpillar has continued in its commitment to quality by awarding one of its new supplier certifications to Ohio-based welding consumable manufacturer The Lincoln Electric Company.
The Supplier Quality Excellence Process Certification, according to the MQ11005 standard, was awarded to Lincoln Electric as a part of a new programme implemented by Caterpillar which guarantees its supply base to be of world class standard, and recognises those suppliers that are taking steps towards zero-defect manufacturing.
The programme combines third-party ISO 9001:2000 registration with full ISO/TS 16949:2002 compliance, as well as elements of the new MQ 11005 manufacturing principles. To be eligible for designation, suppliers must also hold a proven history of six sigma success.
“The new Supplier Quality Excellence Programme plays a critical role in moving to a more proactive approach to managing supplier quality and ensuring robust process control/change management in support of our 2010 zero defect vision,” said Dan Murphy, vice president for Caterpillar’s Global Purchasing Division. “As we move towards this vision, suppliers who demonstrate significant progress towards these programme requirements will be our partners of choice for new business.”
