(AIAG: Southfield, MI) -- The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) recently presented the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with its highest honor, the 2009 AIAG Chairman’s Award.

“Thomas Sowell once said: ‘The march of science and technology does not imply growing intellectual complexity in the lives of most people. It often means the opposite,’” says J. Scot Sharland, executive director of AIAG. “For more than 14 years, AIAG has had the privilege of partnering with NIST to attack cost and complexity in the global automotive supply chain and our successful collaboration has delivered tens of millions of dollars in cost savings to our industry.”

“NIST is keenly aware of the importance of the automotive industry to the U.S. economy,” says NIST deputy director Patrick Gallagher. “We’re delighted to accept this award and proud of the NIST researchers who have worked so diligently over the years with collaborators at AIAG and throughout the auto industry to help foster innovation."

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