Maybe it’s a chili cook-off. Maybe it’s recognition. Or maybe just respect.

Whatever it is, top companies know how to treat employees well—and get results. When I spoke with this year’s top Quality Leadership companies, several themes emerged. Employee retention, respect, and teamwork were all priorities. Technology, training and standards are also important.

The survey was conducted in fall 2022. As usual, companies were evaluated on a range of factors, including continuous improvement and quality programs; contribution of quality to profitability and shareholder value; average number of hours that employees receive quality training; scrap and rework as a percentage of sales; warranty costs as a percentage of sales; and registration to various standards such as ISO 9001.

Does your company deserve to be on our annual Quality Leadership ranking? If so, look for our survey this fall.

Thank you to all those who completed this year’s survey.

Source: SEG Automotive

1. SEG Automotive

Novi, MI – www.seg-automotive.com

Those in the automotive industry will likely recognize SEG Automotive. According to the company, their products are used by almost all major car makers.

“Mobility is an intrinsic human desire – and we at SEG Automotive have been its motor since in 1914,” Ferdinando Sorrentino, CEO of SEG Automotive, says on the company’s website. “Our powertrain components power over 300 million vehicles on the road today. And, beyond that, we have also been a continuous motor for innovation in our field – from the first starter motor to 48V hybridization, light electric mobility and now high voltage solutions. With our vision, we express our desire, and confidence, to extend this role as the ‘motor of the mobility of today’ into the future.” » Read More

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Source: DIT-MCO

2. DIT-MCO

DIT-MCO Leads the Way

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Kansas City, MO – www.ditmco.com

DIT-MCO celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Andrew J. Zawisza, quality assurance manager at DIT-MCO International, has been with the company for more than 33 years—yet fourteen people have more seniority than him.

The name comes from Drive-In Theater Manufacturing Company. Though the company sold off that portion of the business in the 1950s, the name stuck. The company now makes aerospace testing equipment, with the main product line being ground support testing systems. They also produce parts for the U.S. Department of Defense aircraft. » Read More

Source: EPM

3. Electro Product Management Inc.

Fairfield, NJ – www.epmtechsales.com

You may recall EPM from last year’s ranking. The company specializes in designing tests and screening procedures for electronic components used in the aerospace, defense, and industrial electronics industries. When I last spoke with Ray D’Alessandro, VP-Engineering, the company was working on their cyber security compliance. Department of Defense contractors will eventually be required to be compliant, and the company continues to be a leader in cyber security.

Since they have achieved this cyber security status, they are currently ahead of the industry. Less than 30% of companies are where they need to be with cyber security compliance, according to their auditor. » Read More

Source: RSD

4. Reed Switch Developments Corp.

Racine, WI – www.reedswitchdevelopments.com

Debra Dahlin’s late father, Harold, and his business partner John Hammond started Reed Switch Developments Corp. 56 years ago in the Dahlin family basement. The three-person company began with standard products but saw a need for custom applications, eventually providing “unique products for just about any industry,” says Dahlin, the company's second-generation family owner and president. The company grew from the basement to the dining room to a shared industrial complex to its own facility. 

In 2022, this 100% woman-owned small business celebrated two key milestones: its 55th year in business, and 35th anniversary as a Wisconsin manufacturer. » Read More

Source: THK

5. THK

Schaumburg, IL – www.thk.com

With a new U.S. HQ President, Nobufumi Sato, THK continues to adapt. According to Tony Peera, new field development manager, business strategy division of THK America Inc., “THK (“Toughness," " High Quality," and " Know-how") is the mark of linear motion, producing high quality and high precision LM guides, ball screws, cross roller rings, actuators, and other products that can be found in almost any industry and application.”

Along with a host of new products, the company had a record sales year in 2022. Perhaps you saw one of their two large booths at IMTS, with robots serving bottled water. And careful readers will note that THK also made our top five list last year as well. In addition, the company recently incorporated their business in Mexico. » Read More