Company Earns Corporate Diversity Innovation Award from World Diversity Leadership Council: Johnson Controls receives global recognition for supplier diversity success
Burscheid, Germany/Prague, Czech Republic (ots)
Johnson Controls has been recognized by the World Diversity Leadership Council as winner of the global Corporate Diversity Innovation award. Johnson Controls is being honored with the award based on its supplier diversity joint-venture program and for excellence in collaborating with suppliers in urban, diverse communities. The award ceremony was held in Prague, Czech Republic, at the World Diversity Leadership Summit (WDLS).
The summit has become a high-profile forum for addressing challenges and opportunities related to diversity management. Major summit partners include the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, Cornell University, Proctor and Gamble, Sun Microsystems, Visa and Hilton International. Johnson Controls is being honored for best-in-class performance along with organizations such as MTV Networks and Adecco.
"We're pleased to have won the 2006 diversity award from WDLS for our continued success in global inclusion with our diversity business development best practices," said John Barth, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls. "We're proud to play a leading role in helping to connect our minority business partners to the global economy, ultimately impacting the local economy and economic development in diverse communities around the world."
Chuck Harvey, vice president of diversity and public affairs, accepted the award on behalf of Johnson Controls. "A key component of our business strategy is to align our business interests with the interests of the communities we serve to create winning opportunities in a dynamic and emerging global marketplace," he said. "The recognition from WDLS is a result of both our business practices and our overall philosophy on diversity."
Johnson Controls has received many awards for its long-term commitment to minority business integration in mainstream business operations. In 2005, the company received the Toyota Superior Award, Ford Recognition of Achievement Award in Diversity and Community Service, DaimlerChrysler Corporation of the Year Award and Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council Corporation of the Year Award. In 2003, Johnson Controls received the "Corporation of the Year Award" from the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the most prestigious honors for minority business development in the United States.
"To remain viable in a global marketplace, minority businesses must be capable of helping us compete on a world-class level to better service our customers," said Reginald Layton, Johnson Controls director of diversity business development. "That's why we emphasize world-class systems and processes in establishing a distinguished supplier diversity program."
Since 2002, Johnson Controls has spent more than $1 billion annually for goods and services with minority- and women-owned firms. The company is one of only 14 firms named to the Billion Dollar Roundtable, an organization comprised of U.S. corporations that spend more than $1 billion annually with minority- and women-owned businesses.
Diverse suppliers that support Johnson Controls internationally include: Flex-N-Gate, Urbana, IL; Detroit Technologies, Inc., Bingham Farms, MI; CNI, Inc., Auburn Hills, MI; and Span Logistics, Toronto, Ontario. These firms support Johnson Controls in Mexico, Spain, Slovenia, Germany and Canada. Johnson Controls is currently a partner in four minority joint ventures that provide automotive seats, door systems and overhead systems to General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda and Toyota. Joint ventures include Bridgewater Interiors LLC of Detroit, Mich., TrimQuest LLC, Grand Rapids, MI; Automotive Technology Systems, Lawrenceville, IL; and Avanzar Interior Technologies, Ltd., San Antonio, TX.
Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries. Founded in 1885, the company is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
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Contact:
Johnson Controls GmbH
Automotive Group
Ina Longwitz
Industriestraße 20-30
51399 Burscheid
Tel.: +49 2174 65-4343
Fax: +49 2174 65-3219
E-Mail: ina.longwitz@jci.com