Kim Buhl, vice president of North America Purchasing at DENSO, emphasized that competitive survival now hinges on building transparent and agile supply chains. According to the company, success in the current environment requires moving beyond traditional procurement to foster deeper collaboration, prioritizing regional self-sufficiency and a customer-first mindset.

The awards recognized partners across four core categories, with Toray Resin Americas taking the top honor as Supplier of the Year. Other recipients included Adkev, Inc., Asahi Kasei Plastics, GSW Manufacturing Inc., Vishay, and Washington Penn, who were recognized as Value Leaders. UACJ Trading & Processing America, Inc. received the Special Achievement award for innovation, while Matsuo Industries, NXP Semiconductors, and Takahata Precision Tennessee, Inc. were cited for superior quality performance.