NSK Ltd. (Japan; Tokyo: 6471; 5251R9N7) has won a hard-to-obtain quality award from PSA Peugeot Citroen.

PSA Group, the second largest auto manufacturer in Europe after Volkswagen, has approximately 300 suppliers for 90% of its parts. Only 14 were selected for awards in five different areas: quality, innovation, replacement parts, economical performance, and sustainable development.

NSK won the award for outstanding quality performance.

Jean-Cristophe Quemard, Executive VP of PSA, presented the award to Ralf Duning, NSK Europe's Automotive Business Unit (EABU) Director: "A production quality award also goes to our Japanese supplier NSK, which has been supplying bearings since 2003. Its quality record is exceptional since its first part supplied: less than 1ppm for 6 consecutive years. Whether in development or production, NSK performance is remarkable and recognized as a technical benchmark. Congratulations."

Highlighting the long lead times necessary for even an established vendor to break into the automotive market, NSK timelined its involvement with PSA: Its EABU began working with PSA back in 1998; a small contract came in 2000; contracts for production volume bearings began bearing fruit in 2003, five years later.

The company also credits its continuous quality improvement efforts and ability to closely coordinate its PSA-bound manufacturing locations. In Peterlee, England, NSK produces wheel bearing hub assembly units for PSA; and in Saitama, Japan, NSK manufactures tapered roller bearings for PSA transmissions and transaxles.

NSK currently supplies bearings for chassis and drivetrain applications for various PSA cars and light trucks and commercial vehicles, and is developing bearings alongside PSA for future applications.