A senior Washington D.C. lawmaker used a break from business in the nation’s capital to visit Dallas County Tuesday as part of a state-wide focus on jobs.

U.S. Sen.. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and two members of his staff, toured Hyundai auto parts supplier Hanil E Hwa, located in Craig Field Industrial Park.

Shelby said the tour is designed to give him a first-hand look at jobs being created in the state.

“I’ve been traveling around the state, going from county to county, and visiting business, seeing how many jobs they have, how they can expand, how they can create more jobs and what we can do to help them and not to harm them in Washington,” he said. “What I see here is a vibrant company making quality parts. If we leave these people alone and let them operate and create an environment, a pro-business environment, businesses large, small and medium that will create jobs for our people.”

Hanil E Hwa officials began the tour with a presentation about the state of the company, which primarily makes interior door panels, engine covers, door handles and other small parts for Hyundai’s Sonata and Elantra model cars. The parts made by Hanil E Hwa are shipped directly to Hyndai’s facility in Montgomery.

The company’s financials have taken a huge leap forward in recent years. After profits took a dive in 2009, the company rebounded and is on track to reach maximum output capacity in 2014.

After the presentation, Hanil E Hwa officials led Shelby through production lines to get a glimpse at how the parts are made.

Shelby said the tour was informative and is an example of the growing automobile industry in Alabama.

“We have a huge automobile presence now that we didn’t have 20 years ago,” he said. “From what I’ve seen this is a vibrant company that makes quality parts,” Shelby said. “All of this is an integral, very important part of what were doing and it’s creating a lot of jobs in Alabama.”