Marine
Mercury Marine named Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (March 3, 2006) Mercury Marine was recognized
Thursday with a 2005 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award for
excellence among the state's largest manufacturers.
The Fond du Lac-based company won the mega category, which
encompasses businesses with 1,000 or more employees. Mercury has about
3,500 employees in Wisconsin, most of them in its headquarters city of Fond
du Lac.
Mercury Marine is the world leader in recreational marine propulsion,
manufacturing products from the steering wheel and gauges to the propeller.
It is best known, however, for its industry-leading marine engines.
The award was accepted by David Michaelson, Mercury's vice president of
outboard manufacturing, and Chief of Staff Jim Hubbard at a black-tie
banquet Thursday at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. Michaelson said the
award is a tribute to the cooperation that exists between all facets of
Mercury's Wisconsin work force.
"To me the total work force is our most valuable resource and how you tap
into that creativity is what makes us able to compete on a global basis," he
said.
Mercury President Patrick C. Mackey said the company is humbled to receive
such a prestigious award in its home state.
"It's always gratifying to discover you have been deemed the best at what
you do, and we're extremely appreciative of this honor, in particular," Mackey
said. "Wisconsin is the home of Mercury Marine and always has been. We're a
homegrown company that started with the genius and hard work of Carl
Kiekhaefer in 1939.
"But equally important is the acknowledgement that we're doing the right
things. Mercury Marine has undergone a complete transformation in the past
five years, and the result is awards such as this and our recent pair of
awards from J.D. Power and Associates.
Like Michaelson, he gives Mercury's employees much of the credit.
"I want to congratulate not only the 3,500-plus Mercury employees in
Wisconsin, but the nearly 7,000 Mercury employees worldwide," Mackey
said. "It's simply great to be part of this team."
Mercury is the only marine engine manufacturer to be 100 percent ISO
9001:2000 certified, and it has embraced the principles of Lean Six Sigma,
which empowers employees across the organization to make tremendous
contributions to product quality and operational efficiency.
This latest accolade comes on the heels of two of the biggest awards in the
company's history. On Feb. 16, Mercury Marine was presented a pair of
customer satisfaction awards from J.D. Power and Associates for its direct-
fuel-injected outboards and its sterndrive engines.
Mercury MerCruiser, Mercury's sterndrive company in Stillwater, Okla., was
recognized by the highly regarded global marketing information firm
as "Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Sterndrive Engines." Mercury
OptiMax the marine industry's leading direct-fuel-injected (DFI) two-stroke
outboard that is built in Fond du Lac, Wis. was recognized as "Highest in
Customer Satisfaction With Two-Stroke Outboard Engines."
Mercury products have also won an Innovation Award each of the last two
years from the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
The Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards are co-sponsored by Michael
Best and Friedrich LLP, a preeminent Midwest-based law firm; Virchow, Krause
& Company, LLP, the nation's 15th largest accounting and consulting firm;
and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business
association. An independent panel of judges, which includes leaders in
business, government, education and the business media, evaluate the
nominations. Five other companies won grand awards in other categories and
three more were recognized with special awards at the banquet. In all, 40
companies were nominated for 2005 WMOTY awards.
Mercury Marine is a division of Brunswick Corporation.
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to
instill "Genuine Ingenuity"" in all its leading consumer brands, including
Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and
inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron
electronic controls; Northstar marine electronics; Navman marine and GPS-
based products; IDS dealer management systems; Albemarle, Arvor, Baja,
Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, HarrisKayot,
Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Örnvik, Palmetto, Princecraft,
Quicksilver, Savage, Sea Boss, Sea Pro, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy,
Uttern and Valiant boats; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea
and Kellogg Marine parts and accessories distributor; Life Fitness, Hammer
Strength and ParaBody fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers,
equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables; and Valley-
Dynamo pool, Air Hockey and foosball tables. For more information, visit
www.brunswick.com.
CONTACT:
Clay Gaillard
Communications Manager
Mercury Marine
Phone: 920-929-5916
Email: clay_gaillard@mercmarine.com
Images available for download at
http://www.mercurymarine.com/media_images
