CHICAGO - Grainger presented 27 top-performing suppliers with its Partners in Performance Supplier Award for 2006 at its annual supplier conference. Grainger, a leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products, presents the award to a select group of suppliers to recognize recipients for exceptional performance throughout the year.

"Grainger's suppliers play an important role in ensuring our customers have access to a broad product offering," said Bob Cocks, Grainger's vice president of product management. "We strive for new ways to learn and grow with our suppliers so that together, we can help customers save time and money by consolidating their purchases. Our Partners in Performance awards ceremony gives us the opportunity to recognize suppliers who have demonstrated superior performance and who are true role models within their industry."

Grainger's Partners in Performance Award recognizes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories, including responsiveness, information integrity, on-time shipping, cost control, management commitment, and order fulfillment. These metrics help measure the ability of suppliers to ensure product is available across the company’s distribution network.

Partners in Performance award winners for 2006 include:

Champion, Garner Denver Co.
Dalloz Fall Protection/Miller
Dalloz Safety
Enerpac
ER Wagner Manufacturing Co.
Federal Signal Corp.
Howard Leight
IMI Norgren Actuator
Ingersoll Rand/Security Technology
Justrite
Klein Tools Inc.
The M.K. Morse Co.
Motorola Inc.
North Safety Equipment
Spectrum Brands/Rayovac Division
Tripp Lite
Uvex Safety Inc.
Weiler Corp.
Wells Lamont Industrial

Supplier of the Year: Custom Leathercraft

Best Small Supplier: Royal Basket Trucks

Best New Supplier: W.C. Wood Co. Inc.

Best Large Supplier: Milwaukee Electric

Best Innovative Supplier: Greenheck

Most Improved Supplier: Fluke Corp.

Additional Awards:
Transportation: Land Air Express of New England

Grainger, S.A. de C.V. (Mexico operations): Urrea

Publication date:03/26/2007