In CANTON Ohio recently, the Timken Automotive Group was recommended to obtain ISO/TS 16949:2002 certification. The company's third group of registrants made recommendations after the July 2004 audit. ISO is the required standard for automotive product design, development, production, installation, and service quality systems. The quality management system was jointly developed by the International Automobile Mission Group and the International Organization for Standardization to adjust the quality standards in the international automobile industry including the United States, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan. William Stanley, manager of the global auto industry quality system, said: "Quality is the core of Timken." "The quality management system of our automotive bearing industry was successfully registered with ISO/TS 16949:2002, which helps ensure that customers are now and in the future. "High quality products are available." Vierzon and Maromme, two facilities in Paris, France, have registered ISO/TS 16949:1999. Timken is a major manufacturer of bearings and synthetic steels in the world. It serves products and companies in 27 countries. Timken is one of the top 500 companies. Its 2003 sales record reached 3.8 billion U.S. dollars. By the end of the year, it employed approximately 26,000 employees. Timken is a registered trademark of Timken Company.