Family Businessman: James Wingard Looks Back on Two Decades of Wingard Quality Supply
Tennessee-based Minority-Owned Business Recognized as a Leader in Tire-Wheel Assembly, Supplying Over 30-Million Assemblies Since 2002
If you’ve parked a new vehicle in your driveway over the last 20 years, chances are, Wingard Quality Supply (“WQS”) had an important part in manufacturing it. That part is the fully assembled tire-wheel – or to be exact, all four of them (and the spare, too). Since opening its doors in 2002, WQS has supplied more than 30 million tire-wheel assemblies to some of the world’s largest automakers – a number that still surprises company president and second-generation owner, James Wingard, when he hears it.
“When my father first started WQS, he wanted to produce the highest quality, safest product, with a focus on customer satisfaction,” Wingard says. “We built our company on that foundation and it has served us well. Today, it remains our purpose.”
The ‘Godfather of Tire-Wheel Assembly’
With 45 years in the automotive industry, James’ father and WQS founder, Jesse Wingard is often dubbed the “Godfather of Tire-Wheel Assembly.” His career began at General Motors, working on the assembly line. Later, he joined Ford Motor Company as a production team member, but with his strong leadership skills and operations acumen, Wingard quickly advanced to the management ranks becoming General Assembly Manager. He then returned to his General Motors roots joining New United Motors (NUMMI), a joint venture with Toyota in Fremont, Calif., from which he retired as Vice President.
In 2002, less than a year into his retirement, WQS was born.
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