Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd., is pleased toannounce the QS-9000 certification of its Kure Works (Works General Manager: Kashio Shiotani), Sakai Works (Works General Manager: Nobuhiko Hayashi), and Toyo Works (Works General Manager: Toshinori Miki), which signifies that, in an audit conducted by QS-9000 registrar JIC Quality Assurance Ltd., the production sites were in compliance with cooperative quality standards issued by U.S. automakers for their suppliers.

QS-9000 is a set of quality standards for suppliers of auto parts and materials created by the United States' "Big Three" automakers (GM, Ford, and Daimler-Chrysler) and five truck makers on the basis of the ISO 9000 series of international quality standards. The standards are based on ISO 9000 quality standards and encompass requirements of both the general automobile industry benchmarks and of each participating company, resulting in very strict guidelines. Since it is necessary to construct a quality assurance system to earn QS-9000 certification, the achievement represents objective verification of product quality.

The activities required for QS-9000 certification include the creation of a company business plan that includes measures for enhanced customer satisfaction; continuous improvements in such areas as defect prevention, variation reduction, and waste reduction; and improvements in production efficiency by using preventive maintenance, which anticipates likely defects or failures through the use of statistical data. Carrying out such activities improves and strengthens the company itself.

Nisshin Steel began activities focused on earning QS-9000 certification in May 1999 after determining that such certification would be necessary to strengthen its quality assurance system, and to adequately respond to the automobile industry's recent trend toward globalization.

Nisshin Steel took advantage of the ISO 9002 certification attained at the Kure, Sakai, and Toyo works to plan for the next step, QS-9000 certification and, on January 11, 2001, the Kure Works was certified for the production of hot-rolled steel strip and steel sheet for use in automobiles intended for export. On January 25, the Sakai and Toyo works were certified for the production of steel sheet and strip products (including hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel, hot-dipped galvanized sheet, hot-dipped aluminized sheet, electro-galvanized sheet, and electrolytic copper plated sheet) in an audit by the QS-9000 registrar, JIC Quality Assurance.

In March 2001, Nisshin Steel plans to have its Osaka Works and Ichikawa Works undergo a QS-9000 audit in order to realize the QS-9000 certification of all of the Company's plants that produce ordinary steel, special steel sheet and strip, and coated steel sheet and strip. In addition, Company-wide efforts will be made to promote the efficient operation of the quality assurance system, especially with regard to improving responses to customer expectations.

All seven of Nisshin Steel's production facilities are already ISO 9002-certified.