Conductix-Wampfler USA Earns Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP) Award

Global companies are pushing to consolidate their supply networks and tighten their supply chains. This is particularly true of Caterpillar, who continuously looks to its supply chain for performance and cost optimization. To meet these global challenges, Conductix-Wampfler’s business processes must keep pace with the best vendors in the world. When Caterpillar approached us back in September of 2014 to become part of their Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP), we jumped at the chance.

The audit was very rigorous, covering a number of categories. Given that Conductix-Wampfler USA is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified, many of the required quality systems are already in place. For example, we have a verifiable, layered quality audit system. We have a robust corrective action system and carry on continuous improvement projects. We actively manage our own supply chain and religiously track and excel at on-time delivery. In June of 2014 we instituted a spare part program based on Caterpillar’s needs, showing that we are interested in working with them on their specific procurement goals. We were then asked to review our five year outlook, to review our cost factors, and specify how we plan to address any foreseeable issues.

Our Platinum Program, installed in 2014, and of which Caterpillar is a part, helped us demonstrate our commitment to superior customer service and RFQ turnaround. We were also able to provide quick responses to any issues or warranty claims. Lastly, our organization’s financial health is excellent. We set in place an ongoing action plan to maintain our commitment to Caterpillar’s SQEP process.

As a result in April of 2016, we were pleased to learn that we have been awarded Caterpillar’s initial “Silver” SQEP Award for Trailing Cable Reels and Slip Rings. To win an award like this from a world-class customer, every department must put forth a full team effort. The engineering and design teams must do high quality and accurate work. The MRP team must make sure that materials arrive on time to meet delivery dates. Production makes an award like this possible due to their daily commitment to quality and on-time shipments. And lastly, the QA, sales, and customer service teams must keep critical communications flowing between our departments and the customer. Congratulations to everyone involved with making our business with Caterpillar a success!