HanOn Systems' American Carrier Plant Holds Ford 'Q1 Certification' Ceremony

Hanon Systems, a global automotive thermal energy management solutions company under the Hankook & Company Group (Chairman Cho Hyun-beom), held an official ceremony to celebrate the 'Q1 Certification' – Ford Motor Company's highest quality accreditation – which was awarded to its plant in Carey, Ohio, USA earlier this year.

Notably, with this certification of the Carey plant, Hanon Systems has now earned Ford Q1 certification across a total of 27 plants located at key sites worldwide.

During the ceremony, representatives from Ford Motor Company personally visited the Carey plant to present the certification plaque and Q1 flag, which symbolise world-class quality. The event was attended by Ford's Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) team, along with leadership from the Americas region and the Carey plant, as well as employees who gathered to celebrate the achievement. A commemorative lunch was also held for the on-site staff.

Ford's 'Q1 Certification' is the highest-level supplier designation mark awarded by Ford Motor Company, granted only to outstanding production plants that have demonstrated exceptional performance across all areas, including quality, delivery, and manufacturing capability. Companies that receive this certification are recognised as reliable partners that meet Ford's stringent manufacturing standards.

To maintain Q1 certification, plants must sustain an overall score of 85 points or above in key performance indicators such as quality performance, manufacturing capability, warranty, and delivery, while also meeting robust operational system and environmental standards. Certified suppliers are granted preferred supplier status in future Ford new business bidding processes, offering opportunities for long-term partnerships.

Seok-ho Seong, Plant Manager of the Carey facility, emphasised: "The Carey plant values Ford as a key partner for continued growth. We will proudly raise the Q1 flag, which symbolises our commitment to Ford, and will continue to focus on continuous improvement to provide the best service to our customers."

Meanwhile, Hanon Systems' Carey plant, which began operations in 2017, primarily produces automotive HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) assemblies and serves as a key hub for the Americas market.