CVG Employee, Diane Bond, Earns Women In Manufacturing STEP Award

NEW ALBANY, Ohio – Diane Bond, operations manager at Commercial Vehicle Group Inc.‘s (CVGI) Edgewood, Iowa, facility was recognized by The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte, University of Phoenix and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers with a Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Award. Bond earned the STEP Award for her excellence and leadership in manufacturing. She joins 121 other women honorees, representing all levels of manufacturing from the factory floor to the C-Suite.

The STEP Awards – part of a larger initiative launched by The Manufacturing Institute, Deloitte, the University of Phoenix and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers – examines and promotes the role of women in manufacturing through recognition, research and best practices for attracting, advancing and retaining strong female talent.

"We are extremely pleased that Diane’s contributions to the company were recognized by this important new initiative," said Kevin R.L. Frailey, president and general manager of global electrical systems for Commercial Vehicle Group. "In a dynamic global economy, Diane and her team are largely responsible for the long-term livelihood of the company’s Edgewood facility, which makes wiring harnesses and electrical cabinets for major customers such as John Deere, Caterpillar, Oshkosh Corp. and Komatsu.

"Under Caterpillar’s SQE Program, Diane and her team achieved PLATINUM status two years in a row for process capability, quality, continuous improvement, delivery and Six-Sigma deployment. Less than two-dozen sites globally have achieved this honor. Thanks to Diane’s leadership, the plant has also been given the top supplier ranking at Caterpillar under their Supplier Quality Excellence Program. With this kind of performance, Diane and her team have helped gain an impressive amount of business for the Edgewood plant," Frailey added.

"The STEP Ahead initiative was founded to change perceptions of the manufacturing industry and create new opportunities for women in the sector," said Latondra Newton, group vice president at Toyota Motor North America Inc. and chair of the STEP Ahead initiative. "This initiative is the call for action to transform the face of today’s manufacturing talent and ensure that women can contribute to the future of this industry."

Commercial Vehicle Group Inc. is a leading supplier of a full range of cab related products and systems for the global commercial vehicle market, including the heavy-duty (Class 8) truck market, the construction, military, bus and agriculture markets and the specialty transportation markets.

Akebono Brake Corporation expanded its Severe Duty Ultra-Premium Disc Brake Pad line by 14 new part numbers for Chrysler, Ford, GMC and Nissan vehicles, increasing coverage by over 11 million vehicles.

Premium stainless steel abutment hardware is included in the kits that require it, the company said.

“We are pleased to announce the release of these 14 new severe duty part numbers expanding coverage for over 11 million VIO adding late-model coverage for Chrysler. Ford, GMC and Nissan. This expansion reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable solutions to our customers. We're eager to see these parts make a significant impact in the field, enhancing performance and durability and reducing downtime where it's most needed. All of these parts are in-stock and ready for shipment,” said Kirby Pruitt, product development manager.