Michelin named Deere's top supplier

BETTENDORF, Iowa (March 16, 2015) — Deere & Co. has recognized Group Michelin's agricultural and earthmover tire units as its Supplier of the Year and named the company a “partner-level” supplier, the heavy-equipment maker's highest honor.

Deere also honored Michelin with its “Innovation of the Year Award” for the company's Michelin X Tweel Turf non-pneumatic tire/wheel component, which Deere is fitting OE on its ZTRAK zero-turn commercial lawn mowers.

Under Deere's “Achieving Excellence” program, participating suppliers are evaluated annually in key performance categories such as quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and “wavelength,” which measures responsiveness, Michelin said.

Group Michelin photo

Group Michelin team members Pierre Guyot (left to right), Mathieu Huet, Emmanuel Ladent and Glen Swabb show off the John Deere partner-level supplier of the year award.

Deere created the program in 1991 to provide suppliers with evaluations and feedback that promote continuous improvement, Michelin said. Award selections are based on creativity, feasibility, collaboration and bottom-line impact.

Emmanuel Ladent, group director of Michelin's agriculture tire division, accepted the award during a ceremony hosted by Deere in Bettendorf.

“Our business teams have worked very hard indeed to establish a spirit of mutual partnership with our associates at John Deere,” Mr. Ladent said, “which has resulted in a strong and growing relationship between our companies.”

The tire maker also was represented by members from its teams in agriculture, earthmover and Tweel technologies divisions.

Michelin delivers products to Deere sites in the U.S., Brazil, Germany and Netherlands.

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