Hyundai supplier Hanil E-Hwa Interior Systems Alabama was given an honor Tuesday that is rarely bestowed.

Hanil E-Hwa Alabama was awarded Quality 5-Star Certification by Hyundai-KIA, an honor that’s only given to a handful of Hyundai suppliers worldwide who demonstrate best practices in new product development, continuous improvement, customer line and field quality, Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier management, inspection and testing, initial part quality plan and process control.

Hanil E-Hwa Interior Systems Alabama, LLC produces several products for the Hyundai Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe, and employs roughly 200 employees with a direct impact of 300 jobs in Selma.

It is the sixth supplier in the U.S. to receive the Hyundai-Kia 5-Star Quality Certification.

“Hanil E-Hwa Alabama is very honored to receive this award,” the company said in a release. “All of our Team Members have worked very hard to reach this goal. It would not have been possible without their continued dedication to quality and the support of our suppliers and community leaders.”

Public officials and employees gathered at Hanil E-Hwa to celebrate the achievement, as Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama director K. Y. Lee presented Hanil E-Hwa Alabama president K.H. Woo with a plaque commemorating the award.

Dallas County Probate Judge and Dallas County Commission chairman Kim Ballard said the Quality 5-Star Certification is a testament to the employees at Hanil E-Hwa and the work force of Dallas County.

“I’ve always contended that Dallas County has an excellent work force, and the 300 plus people that work at Hanil E Hwa are the reason they got the Hyundai 5 Star award,” Ballard said. “To know that we’ve got the quality of employees … that can achieve an almost unobtainable standard of excellence to be given that award is great. They don’t just give that award lightly. You’ve got to meet all kinds of standards — on-time deliveries, safety standards, quality control. The pride that those employees exhibit is an example of what our work force is like. For Hanil E Hwa to be given this award stabilizes their presence here in Dallas County.”

In his congratulatory speech at the ceremony on Tuesday, Ballard unofficially declared April 24 as Hanil E Hwa Day, and said the official declaration will come at the next commission meeting on May 7.

Selma Mayor George Evans also congratulated Hanil E Hwa on the achievement.

“They’re a tremendous contributor to the economy of Selma-Dallas County,” Evans said. “The 5-Star Quality Certification they got, does not go to just any supplier, you have to be exceptional. It’s a testament to the administrators, the staff and the employees that work there. It’s really just another piece to the puzzle as we try to establish notoriety in our city and the quality of work and work relationships we have.”