Manufacturing Leadership 100 Innovative Enterprise Award Presented to EAO Corporation for Pioneering HMI Systems Program

-- The initiative's mixed technologies approach provides unique solutions to clients and opens up further business opportunities for EAO

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- EAO Corporation has been awarded the 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 (ML100) Innovative Enterprise Award for its human machine interface (HMI) systems program. This high-growth program not only helps EAO maintain its market leadership in specialized HMI Components but also vastly enhances its capabilities and value proposition, thereby expanding its customer base.

Recognizing a scarcity in the market for design and consultative support to customers, EAO instituted the program with its unique "mixed technologies HMI" approach that integrates all forms of HMI to meet specific end-user application needs and to provide a complete, intuitive, ergonomic and successful HMI System. This increases EAO's value as an expert partner, allowing it to leverage extensive application knowledge in various markets to offer comprehensive guidance on HMI design and selection as well as supporting safety, regulatory, and ergonomic standards and an array of communication interface protocols. The ability to present multi-disciplined technical solutions as a sole supplier also effectively reduces end-user supply chain requirements.

The program involved a complete overhaul of the sales process at EAO. The company's sales and customer interaction approach, messaging to the markets, and the implementation of local/lean manufacturing were all enhanced and strengthened within this initiative. As a result, EAO was presented with customer opportunities that were previously not achievable as a standalone component supplier.

Today, the company has a reputation in the market as a complete HMI System developer, integrator, and expert supplier. Since the initiation of the project in 2009, HMI System sales have rapidly increased, and the company anticipates a category CAGR of over 100 percent for each of the next three years.

The sustainable future growth-path created for EAO through the HMI System program as well as the transformative potential it can have on the entire industry makes the company a worthy recipient of the 2013 ML100 Innovative Enterprise Award.

"By understanding the needs of its market and innovating to create a new business model, EAO successfully transformed itself into a company that creates more value for customers," said Jeff Moad, director of research at the Manufacturing Leadership Community. "This makes EAO a model for other manufacturers and a worthy recipient of the Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award for Innovation."

Each year, the Manufacturing Leadership Community, the producer of the Manufacturing Leadership Summit and Awards program, presents this award to companies that have demonstrated positive impacts on operating results and process efficiencies through accelerated product and process innovation; collaboration with customers, partners and internal stakeholders; the implementation of standard, measurable processes; and the deployment of advanced technologies.

Manufacturing Leadership Awards:

The ML100 Awards honor companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Award nominees describe their breakthrough projects using the nomination form. Nominations for breakthrough projects are entered into specific categories and evaluated by a panel of expert judges. Seven of the ML100 categories are for outstanding projects undertaken and completed by a manufacturing company. Four of the categories recognize the achievements of individual manufacturing executives.

For more information, go to http://www.ml100awards.com.

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Frost & Sullivan Contact:
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Corporate Communications -- North America
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About EAO

EAO Corporation is a technology leader in Human Machine Interface (HMI) Systems and Components. Founded more than 60 years ago in Olten, Switzerland, EAO is a global manufacturer of a full line of HMI Components, including switches and keypads, as well as complete HMI Systems. For more information, visit our web site at www.eao.com or contact EAO at 98 Washington Street, Milford, CT 06460; Telephone: +1-203-877-4577; Fax: +1-203-877-3694. Send E-mail inquiries to sales.eus@eao.com.

EAO Contact:
Dan DiGioia, Marketing Manager
EAO Corporation
P: +1-203-877-4577
F: +1-203-877-3694
Dan.digioia@eao.com