4 November 2010 | Angeline Albert
MicrosoftCorporation’s
supplier awards recognised the vendor who built the controller-free Xbox 360
Kinect devices that are being released in the US today.
This week, FlextronicsInternational won the ‘value excellence award’ at the 2010 Microsoft Vendor Program (MSVP)
Vendor Excellence Awards for its efforts to help launch Kinect.
Flextronics has built millions of the controller-free devices
for the Xbox and exceeded Microsoft’s expectations in its global team support
of the launch of Kinect.
In a statement Microsoft said: “The purpose of MSVP is to
foster world-class procurement by offering Microsoft employees a global, swift
and straightforward approach to target and engage pre-qualified vendors vetted
by Microsoft Procurement, which enables cost efficacy and provides real
benefits to vendors.”
Winners were announced in seven categories: diversity,
environmental, quality, service, technology, value and vendor of the year.
Electronics giant Hitachi won the ‘technology excellence award’
for designing and building custom manufacturing and test equipment for the
global launch of Kinect. Microsoft said: “Since the start of manufacturing,
Hitachi has maintained an exceptional production yield, minimising waste in
utilising the tightly constrained sub-components required for building this
device. Hitachi worked closely with Microsoft and strategic component suppliers
to maintain continuity of supply.”
Hitachi also won ‘vendor
of the year’ for its work onMicrosoft’s
introduction of a premium version of Xbox 360. Judges praised it for prioritising
the company during a very tight industry supply period to meet aggressive
schedules for special builds.
Tim McBride, general manager and chief procurement officer at
Microsoft, said: “Our MSVP members continue to provide excellent results,
responsive service and innovation that are instrumental to the success of our
employees and the company.”
