Schneider National announced that its automotive customer service team recently received Ford Motor Co.’s Q1 certification, the automaker’s highest recognition of supplier quality and service. Schneider says the award places it among an elite group within Ford’s carrier base.
Q1 certification awards are based on high-quality management practices that enable a provider to deliver products and services that meet and exceed the requirements set by Ford Motor Co. Providers that are recognized with the Q1 award have done so by achieving a superior level of performance and maintaining it for six consecutive months. The application process can take between 12 and 18 months.
Schneider National has worked with Ford Motor Co. since 1995. The company’s specific achievements include managing Ford’s freight lanes to a tightly measured process-driven model; streamlining its approach to customer service, operations and leadership; and sustaining its focus on minimal client production issues or disruptions. Over the past 12 months, Schneider also has met service levels at more than 98 percent, including pickup and delivery, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) communications and acceptance.
“Receiving Q1 certification from Ford is a tremendous honor for Schneider National and underscores our commitment to delivering the service level expectations and operational efficiencies that our clients expect,” says Dan Van Alstine, senior vice president of enterprise sales for Schneider National. “We applaud the hard work and dedication of our automotive customer service team and their collaborative efforts to make this happen.”
The recent award from Ford brings enterprise-wide recognition to Schneider, as it follows on the heels of Schneider Logistics’ Ford customer service division award in 2004. Both Schneider National and Schneider Logistics will display Ford Q1 certification flags at their facilities in Green Bay, Wis.
