Dofasco Tubular Products announced that its Shelby, Ohio, plant has been awarded certification for its compliance with the TS 16949 Quality Management System standard. The Shelby plant already holds a QS-9000 certification.

The TS 16949 process specifies development of a Quality Management System that provides continuous improvement, emphasizes defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. It provides specific system requirements for the design, development and production of automotive related products.

Hard work, attention to detail and the Shelby employees’ determination to continually improve all facets of their system is what enabled the plant to achieve TS certification, according to James R. Baske, Vice President and General Manager, Mechanical Tubing Business, emphasized that it was the

Mr. Baske also discussed the customer benefits that will result from the stringent quality system. He stressed that, "While TS 16949 certification was designed as an automotive quality standard, its exceptional quality management system, focus on defect prevention, and the reduction of variation and waste will benefit all of Shelby's customers."

Headquartered in Woodstock, Ont., Dofasco Tubular Products is the largest and most diversified producer of steel tubular products in North America. Formed in 2005 when the Dofasco de Mexico, and Marion tubing plants were merged with Copperweld's automotive and mechanical tubing businesses, the company employs approximately 2200 people in North America. The company’s Shelby plant is a worldwide supplier of high-quality Drawn-Over-Mandrel (DOM), As-Welded Mechanical, Cold Drawn and Hot Finished Seamless steel tubing products.