Quality audits are central to our continuous improvement philosophy and a key to ensuring the global reliability of our products. The audit procedure includes the Supplier Quality Assurance Audit, outlined previously, the Outgoing Quality Audit and the International Bearing Performance Audit.

The Outgoing Quality Audit is a structured process that takes place in every Timken plant. Timken associates randomly check outgoing product and examine it for various specifications, including dimensional and performance features.

The International Bearing Performance Audit is a more centralized check of the product. Samples of the bearings from every plant are subject to dimensional inspection, metallurgical evaluation and life testing at our main research facility. The results indicate each plant’s adherence to our design specifications and provide an evaluation for bearing performance improvements.

All of these internal audits provide input for review of manufacturing capabilities and process performance. Based on those reviews, we implement continuous improvement initiatives to ensure that our customers receive the best performing bearings.