PELL CITY – Honda of North America officials traveled from Ohio to present a local company with the prestigious “Honda Supplier of the Year” award.
“This is a great place to honor you,” Mike Wallace, associate chief advisor of Honda of America Manufacturing Inc., of Marysville, Ohio, told IPAK of Alabama employees on the floor of the Pell City plant Thursday morning.
IPAK, which is in the Pell City Industrial Park, produces packaging to protect Honda automobile parts for all of Honda of North American central region and Canada manufacturing facilities.
Rita Schwer, HAM project leader for the 2013 Honda Accord, said IPAK exceeded HAM’s expectations in quality and service.
“They exceeded our schedule,” she said.
Schwer said IPAK completed 66 jobs, or produced packaging for more than 20,000 car manufacturing pieces or parts.
“They delivered quality packaging products on time,” she said.
The company also makes automobile parts packaging for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln.
“Thanks from our team to your team,” said Mark Hollis, with HMA packaging department.
Jeff Huhn, who along with David and Dominic Mobley, own the returnable packaging solution company, told IPAK workers that their hard work and efforts for the past 18 months was the reason the company won the 2013 Honda Supplier of the Year award.
“Thank you,” he said.
Huhn said IPAK of Alabama is about five-years-old and employs anywhere from 20 to more than 40 workers at any one time.
Wallace said HAM Central Region uses about 5,000 suppliers, about 1,800 suppliers on regular bases.
He said there are about 20 category groups that are HAM suppliers.
“The award is not automatic,” Wallace said. “It’s earned.”
He said HAM only presented 10 Supplier of the Year award this year.
“They are the best of the best,” he said.
Wallace said IPAK excels in innovation, designing and manufacturing packaging for specific HAM parts.
He said the criteria of the Supplier of the Year award includes consideration in cost, delivery, quality, the overall value of products produced, service and innovation.
“They (IPAK) are very, very good with innovation,” Wallace said.
Article by: David Atchison/The Daily Home
Original article: http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/23825059/article-IPAK–Honda-Supplier-of-the-Year-?instance=home_right
