Maryville, Tennessee
DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN)

DMTN’s Education and Development Department won two international awards in June for its suggestion system. The Center for Suggestion Development (CSSD) in Orlando, Fla., has sponsored the annual Best Practices Awards since 1994, expanding internationally this year to 40 nations.

Recognized in two categories, DMTN’s associate suggestion program was a winner in the categories of “evaluation process” and for “best individual suggestion.” CSSD President Tom Jensen said: “There are many things other companies can benefi t from by benchmarking your organization.”

Judges described DMTN’s evaluation processes as “well thought out and designed.” They complimented DMTN’s format, “ keeping the suggestion communication open” between associate and supervisor and providing a form that is “clear and easy to use,” following a “straightforward and good-process fl ow.”

Regarding the individual suggestion, CSSD spotlighted Athens associate Jack Watson’s idea of “producing in-house shafts for potting metering pumps, rather than purchasing them from a supplier whose product had a coating which caused expensive damage.” Watson’s suggestion saved the company (now DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee) more than $141,000.

–Alessia Razzeto