Tempel, the world’s leading manufacturer of precision magnetic steel laminations for the automotive, motor, generator, transformer and lighting industries, has earned Gold certification through Caterpillar Inc.’s Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP).

Caterpillar’s SQEP is a key factor in the company’s “zero-defect” culture and is only awarded to its suppliers who meet a stringent list of performance standards based on outstanding quality, cost and on time delivery, to name a few.

The SQEP uses the industry’s best practices for quality tools and system requirements to determine best-in-class supplier performance, which include ISO certification, supplier parts per million (PPM), on-time production part approval process (PPAP), statistical process capability results on key characteristics, Six Sigma deployment, supplier capacity, on-time delivery to production and customer service.

Caterpillar’s SQEP certification levels are Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Caterpillar awarded only 1,113 suppliers, or approximately 10 percent, with SQEP certification in 2016. Tempel joins a list of just 179 suppliers who have achieved Gold status. Approximately less than one percent of suppliers are able to achieve this SQPE certification level.

“We are very excited to have earned Caterpillar’s SQEP certification,” says Judith Valdez, Tempel Global Quality Director. “The SQEP Gold level certification achieved by our Tempel Chicago division is a true reflection of our commitment to be a world class manufacturer who makes delivering overall service excellence as our top priority.”