ShopFloor Press
Quality and manufacturing news that touches the floor
In this edition
The Manufacturing Day edition covers Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2026. One batch of steering knuckles produced without completing the production process led to a recall of 617 SUVs. ISM’s September PMI showed a ninth month of growth with prices jumping, and the IATF wire was quiet.
Automotive Desk · Impact 85
One bad batch, 617 SUVs recalled
NHTSA recall 26V598, listed in NHTSA’s weekly recall summary dated Sept. 28, covers 617 model year 2026 vehicles: the Lexus RX, RX Hybrid, TX and TX Hybrid and the Toyota Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid. NHTSA’s summary describes a manufacturing error that can let the front steering knuckles crack and break, with a loss of steering control as the risk.
As Kelley Blue Book reported the filing, one batch of the knuckles was produced without completing the production process, and the affected parts came from a specific production batch from a specific supplier. Dealers will inspect the knuckles and replace affected parts at no cost. This paper names no supplier, because NHTSA’s summary names none, and reports no cause beyond the filing’s own words.
On the floor Monday
Run a special process, or buy one? Pull one lot’s records and prove every required step happened. A step with no record is a step you can’t defend.
Source: NHTSA weekly recall summary, Sept. 28, 2026; Kelley Blue Book.
Shop Floor Economy · Impact 60
Factories grow, prices jump
ISM’s September Manufacturing PMI, released Oct. 1, read 54.5 percent, 0.1 point below August and the ninth straight month of expansion. New Orders rose to 55.3 percent, Production eased to 56.7 percent, Employment rose to 52.7 percent and the Backlog of Orders Index jumped to 56.4 percent.
The Prices Index rose 6.8 points to 77.9 percent, with 58.6 percent of respondents reporting higher prices, up from 46.2 percent in August. ISM attributes the pressure to steel and aluminum prices, tariffs on imported goods and petroleum-based products. Supplier deliveries slowed for a 10th month, and ISM’s short supply list includes steel, aluminum products, electronic components and memory.
On the floor Monday
Price pressure tempts fast source changes. A new source can trigger customer notification and PPAP, so check before the first shipment.
Source: ISM, September 2026 Manufacturing PMI Report, Oct. 1, 2026.
Auto Beat
Quiet week on the IATF wire
The IATF Global Oversight news page showed no new postings dated Sept. 26 to Oct. 2. Its newest item remains CB Communiqué 2026-005 of Sept. 18, covered in No. 1. No OEM customer-specific requirement changed in the window.
Source: iatfglobaloversight.org, Latest News, checked Oct. 2, 2026.
Background
CQI-19 Version 2 and the 9001 clock
AIAG’s Quality Summit program described CQI-19 Version 2, its sub-tier supplier management guideline, as focused on risk-based evaluations, clearer escalation paths and closing gaps before they become customer issues. We could not confirm a publication date inside this window, so it runs here as background rather than news.
On ISO 9001:2026, we found no new ISO or Global ACI release dated in the window. Global ACI’s Sept. 16 transition requirements still give ISO 9001:2015 certificates until Sept. 30, 2029.
Source: AIAG, Quality Summit agenda, aiag.org; Global ACI, Sept. 16, 2026.
Workforce Desk · Impact 50
Today, manufacturing opens its doors
The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, holds MFG Day on the first Friday in October, this year Oct. 2, with events continuing through the month. Companies and schools across the country open their doors to students, parents, educators and community leaders. The Institute says manufacturers need to fill 3.8 million jobs over the next decade.
On the floor Monday
Walk your floor like a visitor. If a stranger can’t tell good parts from bad by the labels and red tags, neither can your next new hire.
Source: The Manufacturing Institute, MFG Day, Oct. 2, 2026.