CE Pro Quest for Quality Awards Voting is Open

Suppliers to the custom electronics industry strive to be the best in their individual category, but being the best isn’t just about engineering and products, it’s about service. That’s why for the third year, CE Pro will be presenting its Quest for Quality Awards, which honor manufacturers and distributors for excellence in customer service.

Voting is now open and can be accessed here.

Over the next three weeks, CE Pro subscribers will be receiving email invitations with links to the ballot. During the tabulation process, votes will be de-duped based on the IP address of the submission so the ballot box can’t be “stuffed.” More than 3,900 votes were received in 2012.

The winners will be named based upon results of a readership survey conducted by CE Pro during February. Surveys containing open-ended questions are emailed to CE Pro readers asking respondents to evaluate the quality of service of manufacturers and distributors. The Platinum, Gold and Silver winners will be recognized in the April issue of CE Pro and awards will be presented.

“In an industry that is so product-driven, the assistance provided by vendors is often overlooked,” states Jason Knott, editor-in-chief, CE Pro. “Many integrators see their suppliers and distributors as their partners, giving technical and sales advice and helping guide their businesses. Now those contributions will be recognized.

“Take a moment to recognize that unheralded tech support person who saved your butt while you were troubleshooting a job one da. Or cast a vote because a company sales rep who helped you design a system. Or send some recognition out to distributor who took your return or got you a necessary component overnight with no questions asked,” adds Knott. “Since its inception, the Quest for Quality Awards program has immediately been special to the supplier community because the awards recognize their people, not the company’s technical prowess.”

Related: 2012 Quest for Quality Award Winners
Objectives of the awards are to evaluate each company on the following attributes:

Customer Service/General Communication: Phone availability (live or recorded), general courtesy, speed of response, receptiveness to feedback
Technical Support: Phone and online assistance
Sales/Marketing Assistance: Support literature, lead generation, demo/display units, website area for consumers;
Warranty Policies (Mfrs. Only): Replacement unit availability, extended warranty time span, repair speed, scope of coverage;
Shipping Policies: Tracking/communication, costs, quality assurance, speed, Will Call option;
Website: Dealer password-protected area, FAQ, download availability, ease of navigation, etc.;
Training Program: Online and in-person system and product training; and
Dealer Program/Incentives: Authorized dealer network with special pricing, products, training, credit terms, etc.
Internet Protection Policies: Manufacturers who police the Internet to protect dealers from unauthorized resellers or violations of MSRPs.

For more information about the CE Pro Quest for Quality Awards, contact Jason Knott, editor, CE Pro, at 508-663-1500 x228 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).