COLUMBUS, Ind. (June 17, 2010) – Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM), the Indiana-based plant responsible for manufacturing the majority of Toyota’s lift trucks sold in the U.S., announced the winners of its annual Supplier of the Year Award. The Quality Cost Delivery award is bestowed to TIEM suppliers whose quality, cost and delivery exceed a 95 percent standard of excellence.

Suppliers are evaluated based on a parts quality rate, their ability to meet cost reduction targets, and on-time delivery performance. All points are awarded based on a corresponding scale for the fiscal year.

This year, 17 winners earned the coveted award, from more than 400 suppliers used by TIEM.

"The ability to provide the highest quality lift-trucks to our customers while maintaining exceptional service is heavily dependent on the performance of our suppliers," said Bruce Nolting, vice president of logistics, production control, purchasing, sales and service parts for TIEM. "This award reflects both our suppliers’ commitment to excellence, as well as our appreciation for their hard work and dedication. We are pleased to have these suppliers among this year’s winners."

This year’s winners are:Advance Wheel – Chicago, Ill. Aisan – Obu, Aichi, Japan Apex – Camby, IN Arvin Sango – Madison, Ind. Atlas Hydraulic – Brantford, Ontario, Canada Avril – Cincinnati, OH Cascade Fork – Fairview, Ore. Commercial Fluid – Dover, Ohio Indiana Hydraulic – Franklin, Ind. Julian Electric – Westmont, Ill. Mac Machine – Baltimore, Md. Rexnord – Milwaukee, Wis. Spencer Forge – Spencer, Ohio Toyoshima – Torrance, Calif. Toyotomi – Brookfield, Conn. US Tsubaki – Wheeling, Ill. Wayne Metals – St, Markle, Ind. About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002. In addition to the full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand, the company’s extended industrial equipment solutions include: Aichi aerial work lifts—scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts—Automated Guided Vehicles, and electric and diesel tow tractors.

Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including TIEM.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 189 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service and support, including one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.