Toyota Honors AK Steel for 12th Consecutive Year

AK Steel, Middletown, Ohio, has announced that it has received Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America's (TMMNA) highest supplier recognition in two categories for 2005 performance. The dual awards, Superior in both Quality and Delivery, were presented at Toyota's Annual Supplier Business Meeting and Awards luncheon held March 22 in Covington, Ky.

"Toyota views our suppliers as business partners, and, together, we have improved our efforts in quality, delivery and value," said Osamu "Simon" Nagata, vice president of purchasing for TMMNA, in Erlanger, Ky. "Thanks to their outstanding service, Toyota has been a tremendous success in North America."

This year’s awards mark the 12 consecutive year that AK Steel has received two awards and the eighth consecutive year that AK Steel has earned Toyota's highest level of supplier recognition, Superior, in both the quality and delivery categories.

"AK Steel is once again honored to receive such prestigious recognition from Toyota for our quality and delivery performance," said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. "We greatly appreciate being part of Toyota's continued growth that has given AK Steel the opportunity to earn dual supplier awards for 12 years in a row."

According to a press release from AK Steel, the company has surpassed an aggregate of more than 500 consecutive months with 100 percent on-time delivery performance to the Toyota and Lexus plants it serves in Kentucky, Indiana, California and Ontario, Canada.

AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products for automotive, appliance, construction and manufacturing markets, as well as tubular steel products.