Lincoln Electric Receives Two Outstanding Supplier Certifications from Caterpillar


April 2008

Cleveland and Mentor, Ohio, plants only welding consumable plants to receive awards

Cleveland - Caterpillar Inc. has recognized The Lincoln Electric Company as one of the construction equipment company's outstanding suppliers at both its Cleveland and Mentor, Ohio consumable plants. Lincoln Electric, a Caterpillar certified supplier since 1991, received Caterpillar's Supplier Quality Excellence Process Certification according to the MQ11005 Standard - making Lincoln Electric the first welding consumable manufacturer to receive this prestigious designation. Caterpillar executives presented the awards at ceremonies conducted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at Lincoln Electric's Cleveland and Mentor plants.

This new certification program is part of Caterpillar's commitment to delivering high-quality, durable equipment and products to its customers. The new certification program guarantees the company works with a world-class supply base that shares this pledge and recognizes suppliers that are working towards zero defects in the manufacturing process.

The new program is a qualification program that combines third-party ISO 9001:2000 registration and full ISO/TS 16949:2002 compliance, along with Caterpillar-unique elements taken from the new MQ 11005 manufacturing principles. Additionally, only suppliers with a demonstrated history of success using Six Sigma, a method designed to reduce defects during manufacturing, are eligible for this designation.

"The new Supplier Quality Excellence Program plays a critical role in moving to a more proactive approach to managing supplier quality and ensuring robust process control/change management in support of our 2010 zero defect vision. As we move toward this vision, suppliers who demonstrate significant progress towards these program requirements will be our partners of choice for new business," says Dan Murphy, vice president, Global Purchasing Division, Caterpillar Inc.

Keith Sheffer, Lincoln Electric's global business director, heavy fabrication, adds, "Just like Caterpillar, Lincoln is committed to manufacturing and delivering the highest quality products on today's market. The quality assurance process at both of our plants is rigorous and thorough, and we have long practiced the principles of Six Sigma in both product design and manufacturing. Cat is an important customer for Lincoln, and we're proud to be recognized as one of their leading suppliers."

The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. For more information, visit www.lincolnelectric.com.

Contact: Kate Eidam
keidam@robertfalls.com
Joe Mosbrook
jmosbrook@robertfalls.com
Robert Falls & Co. Public Relations
(216) 696-0229

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