United States Steel Corp.’s Granite City Works has earned Ford Motor Co.'s Bulk Materials Q1 quality certification.

To achieve certification, Granite City Works had to demonstrate excellence in four critical areas: capable systems (QS-9000 and ISO 14001 certification), ongoing performance, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Lew Dimovski, Ford Supplier Technical Assistance Engineer, congratulated and thanked the employees of Granite City Works for their accomplishment during a ceremony at the plant. "Achieving Ford Q1 certification is not easy. Only by expecting and receiving excellence from our suppliers can we build the quality vehicles demanded by our customers," Dimovski said.

"The employees of Granite City Works have demonstrated through hard work and dedication that they can provide the quality and delivery necessary to be recognized as a Q1 supplier. At Ford we view this achievement as the beginning — the first step toward continuous improvement in the service and quality you provide. We look forward to continuing to see the results of Granite City Works' efforts in the quality of our vehicles."

"On behalf of the 2300 men and women of Granite City Works, we are honored and proud of achieving this important quality recognition," said General Manager Merle Stein. "We will display the plaque prominently and fly the flag proudly in honor of the significance of our achievement and as a reminder of our need to continuously improve the quality of our product and service. I know we are up to the challenge."