Feb 9 2005

Alcoa announced today that the Hungarian wheels plant of its Alcoa Wheel Products business won the 2004 National Quality/Excellence Award, the most prestigious business excellence award in Hungary. Alcoa Wheel Products Europe (AWPE) was awarded the national prize by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany during a ceremony recently.
Sponsored by the Hungarian Ministry of Economics, the award uses criteria based on the European Foundation for Quality Management model, adopted by 30 countries. AWPE was selected following a rigorous evaluation process involving site visits by assessors measuring criteria including customer and performance results, partnerships, strategy and leadership.
"It is extremely rewarding that Alcoa Wheel Products Europe won this award on its first application. This award recognizes not only the quality and level of products or services, but the overall functional excellence of the organization and its results," said Laszlo Veres, managing director of Alcoa Wheel Products Europe.
This national prize follows a series of earlier honors for the business including the 2003 IIASA-Shiba Award for total quality management, 2002 House of Hungarian Quality Award, as well as several corporate citizenship and community involvement recognitions.
For more information on wheels click here.