Postal Service Honors Somerset PA Supplier for Superior Performance

Supply Chain Best Practices Recognized

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has honored eight suppliers for superior supply chain performance in 2008. Wheeler Bros. Inc. of Somerset, PA is one of the eight.

For 19 years, the Postal Service has recognized top-performing suppliers who deliver best-value solutions and integrated supply chains that are timely, cost effective, and operationally efficient.

This year’s awards program honors suppliers in five categories: Supplier Performance, Supplier Excellence, Supplier Diversity, Postal Supplier Council Excellence, and for the first time, Supplier Sustainability Excellence.

“Our relationships with our suppliers, especially in these challenging financial times, are one of the most important stakeholder relationships we have,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter, who presented the 2008 Supplier Performance Awards at a recent ceremony in Washington, DC. “And for an organization as large as the Postal Service, it’s a critical relationship.”

Susan M. Brownell, vice president, Supply Management, helped present the awards. “We take great pride in honoring suppliers who exemplify superior supply chain performance and exhibit a true spirit of cooperative business relationships,” she said. “The suppliers and postal teams here today exemplify a collaborative spirit of partnership that has helped, and will continue to help, us do things we never thought possible,” added Brownell.

Eligibility for the Supplier Performance award is reserved for suppliers designated as key suppliers that demonstrate outstanding supply chain management performance and positive business relationships with the Postal Service. All other suppliers (those not designated as key) may be nominated for the Supplier Excellence award, which is based on criteria similar to that used in the Supplier Performance award.

The Supplier Diversity award recognizes suppliers for diversity efforts that have had a positive impact on Postal Service diversity goals, such as exceeding agreed-upon spend commitment to small-, minority- and woman-owned subcontracting firms on USPS contracts or participating in mentor/protégé efforts with small-, minority- or woman-owned companies.

The Supplier Sustainability Excellence award recognizes significant documented achievements in green business practices that help the Postal Service achieve its sustainability goals and reduce its carbon footprint.

The Postal Supplier Council Excellence award honors individuals or teams who have made the greatest contribution to the success of Postal Supplier Council initiatives.

The 2008 Pennsylvania supplier winner is:

Wheeler Bros., Inc.

Supplier Performance Award

Wheeler Bros. is a small, woman-owned business that provides vehicle repair parts in support of all makes and models of the USPS vehicle fleet, as well as inventory management services.

David L. Wheeler
President and CEO
“Wheeler Bros., Inc. strives to exceed our customers’ requirements and satisfy our contractual obligations by providing quality products and services. Winning this award is an honor to all our valued employees and those involved in our 20-year supply management partnership with the Postal Service. It truly has been a cooperative effort by everyone toward innovative ideas, continuous improvement, cost savings and the spirit to get them done.”

*Cradle to Cradle is an environmental certification by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, awarded to Priority Mail and Express Mail packaging and envelopes produced by Bell that have met 39 criteria for human and environmental health characteristics, including recyclability and manufacturing attributes.