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AK Steel Captures Fifth-Straight Double Honors from Toyota

23 March 1999

AK Steel Captures Fifth-Straight Double Honors from Toyota

    MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, March 22 -- AK Steel has earned
the top supplier award in two separate categories from Toyota Motor
Manufacturing North America, Inc.  AK Steel was awarded Superior in Quality
and Superior in Delivery Awards at Toyota's annual Supplier Business Meeting
and Awards Ceremony in Cincinnati.  The Superior Award is the highest
recognition possible for Toyota's 500 North American parts and materials
suppliers.
    AK Steel was the first steel supplier to win double Toyota awards in a
single year, based on 1994 performance.  In an unprecedented feat, AK Steel
repeated the performance in 1995 and again captured both awards.  For 1996, AK
Steel again was awarded Toyota's Excellence in Quality mark, while achieving
the highest honor, Superior, for delivery.  AK Steel repeated the 1996
performance in 1997, and for 1998 became the first steel supplier to win two
superior awards from Toyota in one year.
    "We again thank Toyota for the opportunity to serve their flat-rolled
steel needs," said Richard M. Wardrop, chairman and chief executive officer of
AK Steel.  "Clearly the employees of AK Steel are dedicated to delivering the
highest quality products on time to Toyota."
    AK Steel supplies a variety of flat-rolled steel products to Toyota plants
in Kentucky, Indiana and California from AK Steel's plants in Middletown,
Ohio, Rockport, Indiana and Ashland, Kentucky.