National Quality Award Winner. Page 2 of 2. The Baldrige Award program celebrates its 20th anniversary. ASince 1988, only 72 organizations nationally have received Baldrige Awards. In 2007, Pro-Tec won the national small business category. PRO-TEC Coating Company was established as a joint venture in 1990 by two global leaders in steel technology and production - U. S. Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) and Kobe Steel, Ltd., of Japan. PRO-TEC is recognized as the leader in Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) in the United States. AHSS allows cars to be lighter yet more crashworthy. Protec is an active member of Ohio partnership for Excellence. Numerous "best management" practices have been incorporated into PRO-TEC's corporate culture, including a self-directed workforce, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and an empowered workforce exercising ownership, responsibility, and accountability. PRO-TEC's success is a result of their ability to excel in areas of product quality and customer service as well as timely delivery, employee satisfaction and continued product development. For more information about PRO-TEC, visit: www.proteccoating.com <<page 1 <<   All organizations face hurdles, some become great, some stumble and sway, others just fade away. Great organizations are able to create a culture of excellence. They create a way of doing business that sees past the short term day-to-day struggle to a long-term, sustainable vision of excellence.