Engine plant achieves world-class quality rating

Ford SA announced at the weekend that its engine plant at Struandale in Port Elizabeth had “notched up another historical achievement” by being awarded the maximum Level 8 for quality by the company's global powertrain organisation.

It is a step up from the Level 7 rating achieved last year.

"The plant has demonstrated great improvements in quality, and is fully deserving of the Level 8 rating achieved during the assessment,” said Lee Scott, quality office executive at Ford Europe.

"This important milestone places the plant amongst the elite of Ford's powertrain facilities in Europe and around the world, which is a particularly apt commendation, considering that about 90% of the local RoCam engine production is exported to South America.

"The balance is produced for the South African market."

Plant quality manager Pedro Adams said the Level 8 rating was "testament to the commitment and dedication of every person at the plant".

"The plant," he said, "has achieved a great deal this year, including becoming one of the first in South Africa accredited to the latest ISO 9001:2008 quality management system standard.

"Also, the facility undertook a successful plant move and machine relocation while not only maintaining its production output, but also raising quality levels."

Plant manager Wallace Yearwood said: "This rating verifies that the Struandale engine plant is world-class, and demonstrates our ability to compete with the best in the world."

Source: The Herald

Published courtesy of