Nikon Corporation Received Intel's Preferred Quality Supplier Award

Nikon Corporation (Makoto Kimura, President) has been recognized to receive Intel Corporation's Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) award for their performance in 2010. Along with 15 other companies, Nikon Corporation is recognized for their significant contributions providing Intel with lithography scanners and steppers, deemed essential to Intel's success.

"Nikon is honored to once again be recognized by Intel as a Preferred Quality Supplier. This is our sixth award win including a Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement award in 2008. We believe this prestigious award reflects our dedication to the world-class support of leading-edge lithography technology, flawless system integration, and continuous improvements in equipment performance and availability that Intel requires. This award is an excellent acknowledgement of the worldwide Nikon team that contributed to our success in achieving these goals," said Kazuo Ushida, president, Precision Equipment Company, Nikon Corporation.

"Intel congratulates Nikon on earning PQS status in 2010," said Janice Golda, Lithography Capital Equipment Development director, Intel Corporation. "Nikon consistently delivers leading edge lithography solutions and provided the extraordinary support needed to enable Intel to achieve a record ramp of our 32 nm process technology, while continuing to improve the safety, sustainability and agility of our capital supply chain."

The PQS award is part of Intel's Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) program that encourages suppliers to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. To qualify for PQS status, suppliers must score 80 percent on a report card that assesses performance and ability to meet cost, quality, availability, technology and environmental, social and governance goals. Suppliers must also achieve 80 percent or greater on a challenging improvement plan and demonstrate solid quality and business systems. Additional information about the SCQI program is available at http://supplier.intel.com/quality.

• Intel Supplier Quality Portal

A celebration to honor PQS award winners will be held in conjunction with Intel's Supplier Day in Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition, there will be an announcement on Intel's website at http://intel.com/.

• Intel's corporate Web site

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