OREANDA-NEWS. March 13, 2012. ООО Gestamp Severstal Vsevolozhsk*, a joint project of Severstal and Gestamp Automocion for the manufacture of automotive metal components has been awarded the highest production quality standard - Q1 (Quality 1) by Ford.

Q1 Supplier’s Status is a set of requirements and standards imposed by Ford on their suppliers worldwide. This covers production quality, streamlined logistics, clean production and compliance with international quality standards.

Dmitry Goroshkov, Director of Sales at the Cherepovets Steel Mill (part of the Severstal Russian Steel Division) commented: “Awarding Q1 Status is the recognition of the cutting-edge level of our products, as well as our production management and organization system. The automobile industry is among Severstal’s priorities: automotive companies consume about 30% of Severstal’s steel. The Certificate issued by Ford, one of the key our clients, not only attests to the quality of our metal components, but also indicates that we have matured to take part in major automobile projects.”

Gestamp Severstal Vsevolozhsk production already meets a number of international certificates of quality.

Besides Gestamp Severstal Vsevolozhsk, Severstal facilities in Russia and in the USA also supply high quality automotive steels. Among the Severstal North America’s major automotive clients are Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and other largest US, German, Japanese and other international OEMs localized in North America.

Last year Severstal’s EAF mill in Columbus, Mississippi, was awarded with international standards recognition certificate (ISO/TS 16949:2009) for the manufacture and supply of steel coils for automotive industry. The Dearborn, MI integrated facility has long been known as one of the premier suppliers of automotive light flat rolled products and today supplies steel for more than 86 different vehicles ranging from trucks to the newest electric and hybrid vehicles.

Besides Severstal cooperates with automakers produce cars in Russia. Severstal has agreements with Hyundai, VW, Peugeot, GM and others.

 
*Gestamp Severstal Vsevolozhsk stamping shop is a project jointly developed with Gestamp Automocion for the manufacture of automotive metal components. Apart from stamping, plant operates a present-day fully automated line for assembly of vehicle units.

The plant operates a robotized stamping line comprising 5 presses, 12 automated workcells Ford for rolling and assembly of doors, hoods, trunks, and also 5 automated GM workcells for the assembly of side members and floor braces. The press line annual capacity is as high as 2 million punches. The plant’s clients are Ford (Ford Focus) and General Motors (Opel Astra, Chevrolet Cruze). Early 2012 will see  the enterprise launching cooperation with Nissan. The plant has a staff of 220 on its payroll.

*Q1: in order to ensure equally high production quality worldwide, Ford Auto Group has developed its in-house quality system Q1, which ensures compliance of all suppliers with uniform standards.

Q1 is awarded to companies whose products are highly approved.

Applicants need a minimum of 6 months to qualify. Within this period, applicants must go through a number of tests so as to enable Ford to make an in-depth assessment of the suppliers’ performance.