Denso named Australia’s supplier of the year

THE Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has named the Denso Australia Group as the 2007 Supplier of the Year, recognising a business restructuring program that has seen the company’s sales, administration and manufacturing operations consolidated at a single site in Melbourne, alongside a new state-of-the-art air-conditioning R&D centre.

In accepting the award, Denso International Australia managing director Neil Kitamiya said innovation and responsiveness to market trends were the keys to its success.

“Knowing the market and knowing the customers is very important,” he said. “There are many areas where we can become innovative – especially in the environmental area.”

The managing director of Denso’s manufacturing division Australian Automotive Air, Russell Pettis, added that R&D was critical for success in the local automotive industry moving forward.

“If you’re just providing a me-too product and not value-adding it will be difficult to survive in the future,” he said. “The journey forward will be based on technology and we are quietly confident of a bright future.”

Speaking at the award presentation in Melbourne last week, FCAI president and Toyota chairman emeritus John Conomos said there was still “great opportunity for those (component suppliers) who want to step up to the mark”, despite the current difficulties being experienced by Australian car manufacturers.

“With new models such as next-generation Falcon and Holden Sportwagon coming, we will strive to give component suppliers what they most need to succeed – greater volumes,” Mr Conomos said.

Supplier of the Year judges are taken from all four Australian car-makers – Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and Toyota – and assess the nominees in terms of product development, quality, timely delivery, competitive pricing, project management and customer service.

Denso won this year’s award from four other tier-one suppliers to local car manufacturers.