Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, one of the nation's largest integrated solutions companies and international supplier of components to the furniture, bedding, transportation and a growing number of diversified markets, announces that its metal stamping facility in Dongguan, China, has been granted ISO/TS 16949 certification.
Developed by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) in conjunction with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO/TS 16949 is an international standard that defines the quality management system requirements for the design and development, production and, when relevant, installation and service of automotive-related products. The goal of the standard is to provide for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.
"We are quite pleased to achieve ISO/TS 16949 certification at this particular facility, because it speaks to where we as a company are headed," said David Colburn, Hickory Springs president and CEO. "Hickory Springs has traditionally been very strong from a metal stamping standpoint, using a wealth of knowledge and experience to take raw steel and turn it into components, historically for the furniture and bedding industry. This certification enables our Asian facility to take this same expertise and apply it to new markets, in this case, the automotive market."
"While certification benefits Hickory Springs through global recognition as a reputable supplier to the automotive industry, Hickory Springs customers also benefit," added Steven Isenhour, Hickory Springs managing director of Pacific operations. "This certification increases their supply base and assures them that the systems in place meet internationally recognized quality standards, even as it underscores our commitment to excellence."
The Dongguan plant is the second facility within the Hickory Springs Group to achieve ISO/TS 16949 certification, enhancing the division's capabilities in the design and manufacture of engineered webbing and formed wire structures for the global OEM automotive seating industry. The Asian facility received the certification following a 15-month process that involved third-party audits of the systems it employs to design, produce and deliver its products. In order to maintain the certification, Hickory Springs will participate in annual follow-up audits.
