FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2007

DONNELLY RECOGNIZED BY MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS
FOR SUPPLIER EXCELLENCE

Alexandria, Minn. – Marvin Windows and Doors, a premier manufacturer of made-to-order wood and clad wood windows and doors, has awarded Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Company with its Silver Supplier award for 2007.

Donnelly molds short-run parts for all Marvin divisions. This recognition comes after only three short years of working with Marvin.

“Receiving this high level award with such a short tenure as a supplier is really exciting for Donnelly,” said Donnelly president Ron Kirscht. “We work hard and perform our best for all customers, no matter how long we’ve been with them, but this recognition really reinforces the committed partnership approach we take with each and every customer.”

Award recipients are determined based on the results from monthly supplier performance reports that evaluate the standards of quality and delivery as well as technology, transaction accuracy, a performance assessment and “bonus points” that Donnelly receives for ISO certification and the process changes it made to meet Marvin’s specific lot acceptance needs.

As with all of its customers, Donnelly doesn’t stop at meeting and exceeding typical supplier performance metrics. Donnelly has also trained Marvin employees on Training Within Industry, a Lean Technique that provides supervisors with critical leadership and analytical skills to help them rapidly and consistently train personnel to recommend and implement process improvements.

Donnelly introduced Training Within Industry to the employees at Marvin’s Minnesota facility a year ago and they have been implementing it ever since. Several employees from Marvin’s Tennessee plant have recently traveled to Donnelly to become certified Job Methods trainers, one of the three Training Within Industry focus areas.

“Sharing our knowledge and best practices such as Training Within Industry is one way that we form high performance partnerships, rather than merely effective supplier relationships, with our customers,” said Kirscht. “As part of our commitment to customer intimacy we apply ourselves to thoroughly know our customers and help them to best succeed.”