Grandview, MO — Caterpillar announced the winners of its 2025 Supplier Excellence Recognition program on September 9, 2025. The annual awards honor top-performing suppliers who demonstrate world-class performance in quality, delivery, and service.
Caterpillar Announces 2025 Supplier Excellence Winners
The Peterson sales team attended the formal awards event on September 9th in Dallas, Texas, where Caterpillar’s corporate headquarters is located. At the event, Caterpillar’s CEO and leadership team expressed their appreciation for the contributions of their SER suppliers, they and emphasized how essential it was to the products and reputation they have with their customers who rely on their equipment every day around the world.
Peterson Named Among Top 10% of Global Suppliers
Peterson proudly accepted Caterpillar’s SER award on September 16th at the company’s corporate headquarters, celebrating its commitment to excellence and continued partnership with Caterpillar. Out of more than 500 suppliers in our category, Peterson’s achievement places the company in the top 40—or the top 10%—of Caterpillar’s global supply base.
Caterpillar’s Supplier Excellence Recognition program evaluates partners using its Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP) certification, measuring performance in critical areas such as quality, delivery, innovation, and cost management. The program highlights suppliers that embrace continuous improvement and demonstrate a “zero defects” culture.
How Supplier Excellence Is Measured
Core criteria for the program:
- Quality: Suppliers are expected to provide products or services that consistently meet or exceed Caterpillar’s stringent standards. This is often measured by defect rates and the rate of returned goods.
- Delivery: On-time delivery is a critical factor, ensuring products and parts are available when and where they are needed.
- Innovation: Suppliers are recognized for demonstrating innovation and working to improve processes or products.
- Cost management: Excellence in cost management is another key criterion for demonstrating outstanding performance.
- Continuous improvement: Top suppliers must show a commitment to continuous improvement in their processes and performance.
- Process control: The program requires suppliers to have robust process control measures in place, often incorporating Six Sigma methodology.
- Transparency: Top-tier performance is also evaluated based on consistent performance and transparency with Caterpillar.
- Sustainability: Some reporting suggests sustainability is an emerging metric for Caterpillar supplier performance.
Everyone at Peterson Manufacturing should be proud to be a part of Caterpillar’s Supplier Excellence Recognition for 2025. This award is metrics based and to achieve this recognition each year, we must continue to deliver consistent quality and delivery every single day of operation.
Pictured: Michael McClelland, Staci Weir-Jackson, Grace Hanson, Tom Lynch, Chris Shore, Jim Rash, Jake Chambers, Luke Morrill, Aaron Porter, Eugene Caton
About Peterson Manufacturing Company
Founded in 1945, Peterson Manufacturing Company is a world-leading innovator in the design, engineering and manufacturing of a complete line of commercial vehicle/trailer safety lighting and harness systems. With headquarters in the greater Kansas City area, Peterson is a privately held company. An ISO 9001:2015 certified company, Peterson Manufacturing is a key subsidiary of Peterson Corporation, five highly specialized companies and nearly 700 associates working in global transportation-related industries. For more information, visit PMLights.com.
