Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Hanon Systems' Ohio plant earns Ford's top quality certification
Hanon Systems employees and Ford Motor Company representatives pose for a photo at the Korean automotive supplier's manufacturing plant in Carey, Ohio, during a ceremony celebrating the facility receiving Ford’s Q1 certification. Courtesy of Hanon Systems
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Hanon Systems, the Korean automotive supplier specializing in climate-control technologies, has secured Ford Motor Company’s highest supplier quality designation at its manufacturing facility in Carey, Ohio.
The receipt of the coveted Q1 certification increases Hanon’s global network of Ford-approved facilities to 27 across the Americas, Europe, China, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The Q1 stamp is a rigorous performance benchmark that rewards manufacturing hubs for demonstrating sustained excellence in manufacturing capability, logistics and engineering. To secure and maintain the status, suppliers must navigate a strict matrix of key performance indicators, maintaining a composite score of at least 85 out of 100. The metrics evaluate everything from precise delivery windows and warranty claims to complex operational and environmental compliance standards.
In return for meeting these stringent requirements, Q1-certified facilities gain lucrative preferred-supplier status in future Ford bidding processes — a critical competitive advantage as automakers reshape their regional supply chains.
To formalize the achievement, Ford representatives, including members of the automaker's Supplier Technical Assistance team, visited the Ohio facility to present local leadership and staff with a commemorative plaque and flag. The ceremony concluded with a celebratory luncheon for the factory floor workers who drove the facility’s quality metrics across the finish line.
"The Ford Q1 designation represents a mark of quality excellence, manufacturing competitiveness and customer satisfaction in a fiercely contested automotive industry," said Brian Trudeau, Hanon's executive vice president overseeing the Americas business group.
Local plant officials signaled that keeping the Q1 flag flying will remain a top priority, anchoring the Carey facility as a vital hub for the regional market. The facility, which began production in 2017, primarily manufactures automotive heating, ventilation, and air conditioning assemblies, serving as a critical pillar for Hanon’s broader industrial footprint across North America.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.