Lear Corporation Honors Ten Global Suppliers in Ninth Annual Hall of Fame Awards Program

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lear Corporation today announced the presentation of Hall of Fame Awards to ten global suppliers based on best-in-class service to Lear.

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The winning companies were acknowledged at the company's ninth annual awards program where they were honored for exceeding expectations and demonstrating excellence in the areas of quality, delivery, service and competitiveness using the Lear Supplier Rating System.

"Our top operating priority is delivering world-class quality and customer-service levels," said Doug DelGrosso, Lear President and Chief Operating Officer. "The quality of the products and services that Lear delivers to its global customers depends in large part on the support of its global supply base. Our success in these critical metrics is made possible by the dedication of the Lear team working in close partnership with suppliers such as the ones we are honoring today."

This year's recipients were chosen from over 2,400 companies that supply Lear globally. The Lear Supplier Hall of Fame Award 2006 recipients are:

-- AVX Corporation -- Central Carolina Products, Inc. -- Elgin Die Mold Co. -- Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering -- KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. -- Murata Electronics N.A., Inc. -- Panasonic Electric Works Corporation -- Ryder Systems, Inc. -- Schukra - A Leggett & Platt Company -- Sofanou AVX Corporation

AVX Corporation, a Kyocera Group Company, is a global leader in the passive electronic component industry. Headquartered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, AVX offers a broad range of devices including capacitors, resistors, filters, timing and circuit protection devices and connectors.

AVX's global manufacturing and distribution network, continued commitment to R&D, and exceptional quality and customer support has made them a valued supplier to Lear. AVX is engaged with Advanced Engineering in the design of new products, including opportunities to take advantage of niobium oxide capacitors which offer great advantages to Lear over traditional capacitors.

Central Carolina Products, Inc.

Central Carolina Products ("CCP") is a minority owned injection-molder located in Burlington, North Carolina. CCP is primarily an automotive supplier, producing a variety of components for both seating and interior applications. In addition to its wide ranging molding capability, CCP is capable of specialized processes including light assembly, painting, insert molding, and pad printing.

CCP is dedicated to serving its customers through continued focus on superior quality performance and low cost manufacturing. CCP currently supplies 31 Lear/IAC facilities and in 2006, did so with an overall RPPM of 7. CCP also understands the importance of establishing and maintaining customer relationships, which has been critical during the recent challenges in the Plastics commodity and throughout the industry.

Elgin Die Mold Co.

Elgin Die Mold is a high-quality custom thermoplastics injection molder based in Pingree Grove, Illinois. Elgin Die Mold is a full service supplier capable of providing design and engineering as well as in-house tooling to meet Lear's requirements. This is Elgin Die Mold's second Hall of Fame Award having received its first award in 2004.

Elgin Die Mold's design and engineering support has proven valuable to Lear in providing custom designed solutions to meet Lear's customer requirements. Elgin Die Mold has exceeded expectations with world class customer service, quality and delivery. Elgin is actively involved with Advanced Engineering early in new programs and with Cost Technology Optimization initiatives to provide the lowest total cost solution.

Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering

Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering is Lear's leading supplier of injection molds. This is the second year that Hi-Tech has been honored with the Lear Supplier Hall of Fame Supplier Award.

Headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Hi-Tech is a family-owned and operated, full-service company specializing in the design & build of production and prototype injection molds. Their level of support and service to Lear has helped to streamline the tool development process while reducing cost and lead time.

Hi-Tech's Rochester Hills-complex consists of four plants totaling over 125,000 square feet. They are a full-service supplier capable of handling any size tooling program with supreme service and technical support. In 1998, Hi- Tech located a 135,000 square-foot facility in Winchester, Tennessee, to be in close proximity to companies requiring a full-service mold supplier. Hi-Tech also has capabilities for the design and construction of gages and checking fixtures at their Winchester facility.

KOA Speer Electronics, Inc.

As a global leader in surface mount passive components, KOA Speer Electronics, Inc. enjoys a leading position as the resistor supplier to Lear Corporation. The Bradford, Pennsylvania, based company is but one part of the KOA umbrella corporation based in Japan that serves Lear in each region in which it does business.

World class logistics enable KOA to ship hundreds of unique part numbers in volumes into the millions per month with a near flawless delivery record. KOA's focus and execution on quality ensure that rejected products are measured in parts per billion. KOA sets the standard at Lear for all other electronic component suppliers to follow. In recognition of KOA's continued support to Lear, this is the second year in a row that KOA has been awarded the Supplier Hall of Fame Award.

Murata Electronics N.A., Inc.

Murata Electronics is Lear's leading supplier of passive electronic components. Headquartered in Japan, Murata is a global company that specializes in the design and production of capacitors, resistors and various filter technologies.

Murata's commitment to technological innovation as well as its outstanding customer support and quality has made them a valued supplier to Lear. Backed by many years of electronic component experience, Murata has provided Lear with products and services above and beyond expectation. This is the third year in a row that Murata has been awarded the Supplier Hall of Fame Award.

Panasonic Electric Works Corporation

Panasonic Electric Works Corporation, Lear's leading supplier of PCB relays, manufactures and sells all manner of electric and electronic components and supplies, including relays, switches, and connectors; automation controls like timers, counters and temperature controls; and other products like sensors and servo drives.

Panasonic has not only provided Lear with products and service above and beyond expectations, their commitment to technological innovation as well as outstanding quality has made them a valued supplier to Lear. As a result, the majority of the PCB mounted relays on new programs in Europe and Asia continue to be awarded to Panasonic.

Ryder Systems, Inc.

Ryder Systems, Inc. a global leader in supply-chain, warehousing and transportation management solutions has been honored with the Lear Supplier Hall of Fame Award in North America.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Ryder is a Fortune 500 company providing 3rd party logistics services to Lear Corporation. Through their Operations Management Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Ryder has assisted Lear in implementing a complete third party logistics solution that has provided network optimization solutions, leverage, best practices and continuous improvement in Lear's North American supply chain. This logistics solution has also led to meeting Lear supply-chain cost reduction goals.

Schukra - A Leggett & Platt Company

Schukra is Lear's leading supplier of lumbar systems and seating comfort technology. The Windsor, Ontario-based company is part of the Leggett & Platt Incorporated umbrella which provides a global footprint, serving Lear in multiple regions and commodities.

Schukra has demonstrated global benchmarking capabilities and continuous improvement abilities through their dedication to Lear's value engineering and cost reduction programs. Schukra's commitment to quality, innovation, continuous improvement and customer support has made them a valued supplier to Lear.

Sofanou

Specializing in the global manufacture and development of protection and fastening components for on-board electrical and electronic wiring harnesses, Sofanou again exceeds Lear Corporation's expectations with best in class customer service, quality and delivery, and pro-active participation in advance engineering and Cost Technology Optimization initiatives.

From its headquarters in France and manufacturing facilities around the world, including low cost countries, Sofanou continuously proves itself an innovative world leader committed to its success through exemplary cooperation with Lear Corporation Electrical Systems Division. This is Sofanou's third award in four years.

Lear Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive seating systems, electronic products and electrical distribution systems. In 2006, Lear ranked #130 among the Fortune 500. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of more than 90,000 employees at 236 facilities in 33 countries. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA]. Further information about Lear is available on the Internet at http://www.lear.com/.