​During a ceremony with its employees today, Industrial Control Repair received a top Special Recognition award from Honda of America Mfg., Inc. for implementing a cost-saving system that tracks the installation of replacement motors and other equipment as they go into service in Honda plants. Industrial Control Repair (ICR) is among eight suppliers receiving Honda’s 2008 “Supplier of the Year” award based on excellence at providing maintenance, repair and operational (MRO) services. They are among 2,100 MRO suppliers that support Honda’s manufacturing in categories ranging from providing electrical and tooling equipment to specialized lubricants, gauges, measuring devices, office supplies and equipment repairs. ICR was the top MRO supplier in the Manufacturing Services category where the suppliers provide services related to the operations of industrial equipment, office equipment, information services, outside labor and waste management. “The people at ICR are taking an innovative approach to develop new efficiencies in managing our operations through their services,” said Mike Wallace, manager of Honda’s MRO Purchasing. “As just one example, your use of tracking software to monitor when motors and other machinery go into service has brought significant cost savings to Honda.” ICR President Paul Gutierrez said he is honored that Honda selected his company as a top Supplier of the Year and that his company has more innovations being developed for ICRcustomers. “This is what being in business is all about . . . building lasting relationships,” Gutierrez said. “In today’s competitive market, you must keep up with the latest technology, but more important you must take care of your customers.” Founded in 1992, ICR has been expanding is operations in both Mexico and Canada. In addition to providing industrial control and repair services to Honda’s operations in Ohio, the company also provides services to Honda of Canada Mfg. and Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. ICR is among eight companies receiving Suppliers of the Year recognition from Honda of America Mfg. this year. Many are located close to the plants they are servicing. In Ohio, they include: Dayton-based John A. Becker Co.; Rosewood Machine & Tool, Rosewood, Ohio; The Ohio Transmission Corp., Columbus; McAuliffe’s Industrial LLC, Marysville; RPM Carbide Die, Inc., Arcadia, and Paragon Service & Supply, Lima. The other recipient is Houghton International, Valley Forge, Pa. Honda of America Mfg. operates four of Honda’s five manufacturing plants in Ohio – the Marysville Motorcycle Plant, Marysville Auto Plant, East Liberty Auto Plant and Anna Engine Plant. The company’s 12,500 associates produced more than 700,000 cars and light trucks in Ohio last year along with more than 1 million auto engines, while also manufacturing Gold Wing touring andVTX 1300 cruiser motorcycles. Honda 2008 MRO Suppliers of the Year John A. Becker Co. Sidney, Ohio Office Headquarters: Dayton, Ohio Electrical Supply & Service Automation, control, conduit, cabling, lighting Services provided to Anna Engine Plant from Sidney location, and to Marysville and East Liberty auto plants from Columbus facility. The Ohio Transmission Corp.Columbus, Ohio Power Transmission Supply & ServiceBearings, cylinders, pumps, gearboxes, valves used for mechanical & power transmission systems. McAuliffe’s Industrial LLC Marysville, Ohio General Mill Supply & Service Hand tools, abrasives, tape, fasteners, janitorial products, and miscellaneous metals and plastics. Rosewood Machine & Tool Rosewood, Ohio Precision Measurement Supply & Service Meters, chart recorders, fixtures, gauges, fabrications, machining. RPM Carbide Die, Inc.Arcadia, OhioParagon Service & Supply Lima, Ohio Production Cutting and Tooling Supply & Service Drills, taps, inserts, grinding wheels, cutters, die punches RPM and Paragon tied in this category Industrial Control Repair Warren, Mich. Manufacturing Services Waste, calibration, part repairing, outside labor & manpower, information services, packaging, office equipment, industrial and administrative contracts Houghton InternationalValley Forge, Pa.Formulated Products Lubricants, coolants, rust preventatives and other industry-based fluids Honda 2008 MRO Special Recognition Starwin Industries Dayton, Ohio Chemcast Ltd.Danville, Ill.“Plant Manager’s Award“Anna Engine PlantIn response to a major fire at a foundry supplier, Starwin Industries and Chemcast expedited the purchase, installation and start-up of equipment to maintain production of sand cores used in ferrous and aluminum casting.Their actions prevented significant production down-time at Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Ohio. As a result, Honda associates continued making passenger cars and light trucks in Ohio, Alabama and Canada without interruption. John A. Becker Co.Dayton, Ohio Special Recognition John A. Becker Co. responded on a Sunday to troubleshoot problems with a newly installed control system at the East Liberty Auto Plant. Their action allowed production to start on time the next day. The Ohio Transmission Corp. Columbus, Ohio Special Recognition Honda was preparing to purchase and install two robots for a new vehicle undercoating process at the Marysville Auto Plant.Challenging conventional thinking, Ohio Transmission pointed out the amount of down time within the existing group of robots. Through testing, they proved that the new process could be added to the existing cell of robots. Tru-Edge Grinding St. Henry, Ohio Special Recognition. Through its innovative approach, Tru-Edge was instrumental in developing new regrind technology that allows the Anna Engine Plant to regrind existing “worn out” cutting tools in the plant. In addition to optimizing drilling performance, the new technology is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and reducing costs associated with using new materials.