HARMAN IS HONORED WITH A GROUPE RENAULT SUPPLIER AWARD FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
HARMAN has received a 2020 Groupe Renault Supplier Award in the “Quality and Customer Satisfaction” category, an honor that emphasizes the quality of service HARMAN provides and celebrates the partnership HARMAN and Renault share. At the 2019 Renault Supplier Awards, HARMAN was honored with an Innovation Award for its Software Update Over-the-Air (OTA) solution, which makes this new award all the more meaningful.
HARMAN and Groupe Renault joined forces in 2015 on the early development of a microphone and a Software OTA solution. HARMAN has been supplying dual MEMS microphones to Renault since 2018, representing the first introduction of this automotive microphone technology in Renault. Renault-Nissan Alliance selected HARMAN as their sole supplier for OTA, with the solution going live globally in May 2019 across the carline. It was a complex integration project involving both Renault and Nissan, as well as several Tier 1 suppliers and the Alliance V-Next service delivery platform. The Quality and Customer Satisfaction award for this project is a testament to the effectiveness of HARMAN’s preventative quality approach. The HARMAN-Renault partnership is growing with ongoing development projects around connected in-car experiences.
Virtual Awards Celebration
Awarded independently of size, country of origin and field of activity, the Renault Supplier Awards recognize the best suppliers for their results over the past year in five categories. Of Renault’s approximately 13,000 suppliers worldwide, only 15 of them received an award. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Renault Supplier Award Ceremony took place virtually in November 2020 and was hosted by Luca de Meo, the recently appointed CEO of Groupe Renault. Ulrich Weinmann, SVP Global Accounts at HARMAN Automotive, accepted the award gratefully.
“With this award, Renault wishes to honor the fully preventive quality mindset that HARMAN has shown from the very beginning of our collaboration. This quality performance is a precious asset in meeting our customers’ needs and expectations as each customer is unique and deserves the best,” said Philippe Guérin-Boutaud EVP, Quality and Total Customer Satisfaction, Groupe Renault.
The award coincided with World Quality Month, which HARMAN celebrates alongside individuals and organizations around the globe every November. In 2020, HARMAN had chosen the theme of “Quality Connects Me” to highlight the importance of quality and recognize the value that quality professionals across the organization bring.
“When each of us can think and act with the needs of the customer in mind, HARMAN innovates faster, reduces complexity and costs,” commented Mark Quint, VP, Global Quality Excellence, HARMAN International.
HARMAN INTERNATIONAL HONORED BY FCA AS 2020 SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
HARMAN International was named FCA Supplier of the Year in the category of Innovation Supplier of the Year during the virtual 2020 North America Annual Supplier Conference and Awards program. The FCA Supplier of the Year awards recognize companies that have shown exceptional commitment to FCA, providing innovative and quality products and services.
“We are proud to be awarded as one of FCA’s leading suppliers recognizing our innovative design for Uconnect 5 connected vehicle platform, and indeed are grateful to work alongside the whole team at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles,” said Dr. Mike Peters, president of HARMAN’s Automotive division. “This partnership will bring customers new levels of exciting, seamless and safe connected infotainment experiences within their vehicles, and we look forward to seeing car-buyers benefit as 2021 vehicles reach dealers.”
During the program, FCA recognized 31 supplier partners across a total of 19 categories.
“The transformational changes we made in 2019 built a strong foundation for the wave of product launches coming out of FCA, and today we spotlighted those suppliers who took their work to the next level,” said Martin Horneck, Head of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, FCA - North America. “These are the ‘best of the best’ in our industry and they will continue playing a leading role in our collective success.”
Winners for innovation, sustainability and diversity categories were submitted by the suppliers and vetted by FCA senior leadership. In the Innovation category, FCA leadership assessed a wide variety of strategic partners, ultimately choosing HARMAN for its demonstrated excellence in advanced system design.
The Uconnect 5 is a global platform and will be integrated into a variety of FCA vehicle brands, bringing HARMAN’s industry-leading infotainment system to even more drivers. Installed with HARMAN’s Firmware-Over-The-Air capabilities, the Uconnect 5 system will ensure each infotainment-equipped FCA vehicle has the latest in security and platform tools. The infotainment system will be supported by the HARMAN Ignite Marketplace, an extensive network of cloud-based applications and services available on the HARMAN Ignite Cloud Platform.
Equipped with connectivity, device management, application enablement, analytics and managed services capabilities, drivers will have ultimate access to their digital personalization, in a secure and safe environment with the Uconnect 5 head unit. Part of a larger in-vehicle infotainment ecosystem encompassing all occupants, Uconnect 5 will ensure that end users can maximize their experience per mile.
HARMAN NAMED A 2020 SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR WINNER BY GENERAL MOTORS
STAMFORD, Conn. – HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets, today announced it has been named a GM Supplier of the Year winner in General Motors’ 29th annual Supplier of the Year awards.
GM recognized 122 of its best suppliers from 16 countries for performance in the 2020 calendar year. The annual awards highlight global suppliers that distinguish themselves by exceeding GM’s requirements, in turn providing GM customers with innovative technologies among the highest quality in the automotive industry.
“As GM works to achieve a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, we are proud to have innovative and dedicated suppliers around the world as partners in this mission,” said Shilpan Amin, GM vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.
“Throughout a challenging year, our suppliers have showed resilience and dedication in working toward our shared goal of long-term sustainability for our planet and the communities we serve, while meeting our present needs,” Amin said. “We are pleased with what we’ve accomplished together in the past year and we are excited by the opportunity that lies ahead.”
The 2020 Supplier of the Year winners were selected by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics leaders. Winners were chosen based on performance criteria in Product Purchasing, Global Purchasing and Manufacturing Services, Customer Care and Aftersales, and Logistics.
“We are honored to be recognized by GM as a Supplier of the Year for our commitment to excellence in partnership value, quality, and innovation,” said Christian Sobottka, President, HARMAN Automotive. “Together, we are developing the next generation of consumer-centric connected vehicle solutions that create rich, innovative experiences for GM customers. We look forward to our continued partnership with General Motors to raise that bar even further.”
