Hankook Tire has been recognized by Ford Motor Company’s Q1 quality assessment and certification system for its Tennessee Plant. The Clarksville, Tenn. facility has been awarded the Q1 medal, which stands for “Quality is No. 1,” for representing excellence in key areas such as technological innovation, product quality, service capabilities and continuous improvement.
The Q1 medal represents the commitment to a quality-first approach, Hankook said. In recognition of the basic quality and manufacturing rules of Ford Motor Company, Q1 is an influential benchmark in the automotive industry that demonstrates the quality level of suppliers and is pursued by major auto parts manufacturers around the world, the company said.
“Trusted relationships with our OE customers are central to driving Hankook Tire forward,” said Rob Williams, president, Hankook Tire America Corp. “The innovation, quality and continued improvement of our Tennessee Plant is key to delivering market-leading products to renowned automakers like Ford Motor Company. We’re proud to see the Tennessee Plant become the latest Hankook Tire facility to earn Ford’s prestigious Q1 medal and look forward to continued success in Clarksville.”
Hankook’s Tennessee Plant supplies tires to Ford models such as the new Ford Edge MKX, Ford Explorer and Ford Econoline. The awarding of Ford’s Q1 medal is the latest milestone in the relationship between Ford and Hankook Tire. The company’s Jiangsu and Chongqing Plants in China also received Ford’s Q1 medal in May of this year.
