OREANDA-NEWS. Fifteen distinguished suppliers to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. have received the 2014 Premier Partner Award from American Honda President & CEO Takuji Yamada today in a special ceremony and reception at the Torrance Marriott South Bay Hotel in Torrance, CA. This year's recipients were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 eligible companies based on excellence in quality, value and customer service that defines Honda's philosophy and reputation.

Premier Partner Award winners play a unique role in supporting Honda businesses and operations, including Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet. Nine of the 15 recipients are repeat winners. This year's class of suppliers includes a number of small businesses and minority-owned businesses.

"Amid record sales and continued strength across Honda companies, we are asking our suppliers to renew their commitment to exceptional quality and service," said Charles Harmon, American Honda's senior manager of procurement and corporate services. "We thank the outstanding organizations recognized today for answering that call and helping Honda to deliver on our own promise to our customers."

Honda desires to establish long-term relationships with suppliers based on trust and mutual benefit, and with a commitment to diversity. Working alongside minority supplier development councils and the Small Business Administration, diversity workshops educate potential ethnic minority and women-owned suppliers on Honda business operations. The workshops facilitate strategic alliances and joint ventures, and assist with loan and venture capitalization, empowerment programs and other available resources. In June, 2014 Honda joined 25 corporations for a discussion with President Obama about strengthening small business suppliers by supporting initiatives like increasing working capital, so they can grow their businesses and hire more workers.