Kobe Steel plant loses remaining industrial quality badge (updated)
15/11/2017 07:38
* Company loses seal of quality for insulated copper tubing
* Latest blow to company from data-tampering scandal
* International standard also removed from Hatano plant
(Recasts with confirmation from industry ministry)
TOKYO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - A Kobe Steel 5406.T plant, which
is at the centre of a data falsification scandal that has roiled
supply chains around the world, has been stripped of all its
industrial quality certifications, Japan's government said on
Wednesday.
The government-sanctioned seal on insulated copper tubing
from Kobe's Hatano plant was revoked after an investigation by a
certification firm into its quality controls, Japan's Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement.
The plant, located southwest of Tokyo, has also lost its ISO
9001 quality certificate from the International Standards
Organization, Japan Quality Assurance Organization said.
Earlier, the plant's Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) seal
for its seamless copper pipe products was removed, as part of
the fallout of one of Japan's biggest industrial scandals.
Japan's third-largest steelmaker, which supplies producers
of cars, planes, trains and other products across the world,
said last month that about 500 of its customers had received
products with falsified specifications.
The company is planning to make a statement on the standards
revocation at 0730 GMT, a Kobe Steel spokesperson said when
contacted by Reuters.
Having the quality seals revoked means the company can no
longer sell the products with the JIS label, potentially
restricting the number of customers that can buy them.
Japanese manufacturing prowess has taken a hit in recent
weeks due to the Kobe Steel scandal and news of improper final
domestic inspection procedures at Nissan Motor 7201.T .
Nissan said earlier on Wednesday it had been informed that
the ISO 9001 certification of its plants and those of affiliate
Nissan Shatai 7222.T had been revoked for production of
Japan-bound vehicles. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N1NE25T
JIS-certified products account for about 40 percent of
Hatano's sales by weight, Kobe Steel said.
Kobe Steel has an extensive role in global supply chains. It
produces engine valve springs found in half the world's cars,
according to its website.
Kobe shares have plunged nearly a quarter since news of the
data tampering in early October. They fell 4 percent on
Wednesday, versus a 1.6 percent drop in the Nikkei 225 .225 .
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Writing by Aaron Sheldrick;
Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Himani Sarkar)
((Ritsuko.Ando@reuters.com; +81 3 6441 1743; Reuters Messaging:
ritsuko.ando.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: KOBE STEEL SCANDAL/