Automotive water and fuel pump manufacturer Airtex-ASC has announced that its North Canton cooling pump manufacturing facility has achieved Q1 certification from Ford.

The Ford Q1 certification is awarded to manufacturing locations that meet stringent quality requirements in five areas: system capability, high performance, superior manufacturing processes, delivery performance and customer satisfaction. The application process can take upwards of a year, and the award indicates that Airtex-ASC is one of Ford’s preferred suppliers and a leading supplier in the domestic automotive industry.

Airtex-ASC, the original equipment supplier of water pumps in the majority of new Ford vehicles, committed to improving its relationship with Ford by setting stringent goals for service shipments, supply chain controls and quality assurance. Year-to-date, Airtex-ASC has achieved a 100 percent supplier delivery rating with Ford, proof that the organization has achieved excellence in delivery performance. To qualify for the Q1 endorsement, a supplier must have an 80 percent or higher rating for six consecutive months. Over the past 12 months, Airtex-ASC has achieved a perfect quality score, with zero defects in 1,158,768 units shipped to Ford.

“Providing our customers with a superior, quality product delivered flawlessly is always our goal, and we are thrilled to receive this recognition from Ford,” said David Peace, president and CEO of Airtex-ASC. “This distinction is the result of hard work and dedication from our plant personnel, and it further deepens our commitment to continue delivering best-in-class results for Ford and all our customers.”

Representatives from the Ford Motor Company visited the North Canton facility earlier this year to present Airtex-ASC with a plaque and flag recognizing Q1 status. The blue flag will fly in front of the facility offices, visible from Massillon Road, at 2100 International Parkway.