Quality in Practice

Quality in Practice

Introduction

The automobile industry is a very competitive industry and continuous innovations have to be brought about to gain competitive advantage over others. Further, sustenance of a business depends on quality control and improved features to attract individuals.Quality control measures along the value chain and the production line is utmost important as any lack before, after or during the process of production can lead to failure of the whole product (Johnny, W., 2012). This influences on the reputation of the company and may have an impact on the revenue.

Thesis Statement

The quality control measures at Honda and comparison with others in the automobile industry.

For Honda, Quality control is very important, when it meets customers' expectations there is a satisfied customer. This builds upbrand loyalty and helps in retaining sales. Moreover, quality control measures aremost effective when the company knows what the customer wants in acertain price. Since, new and improved technology appears from time to time, producers are forced to incorporate them in their products. The quality improvement is a growing need of the business environment today. As the competition is high, cost savings and higher profitability becomes a challenge for the company.The focus of companies in the automobile industry is to differentiate from the vast numbers of competitors. The growth of technology leads to higher product complexity and thus favors quality movement.The product life cycles are becoming shorter with the technological development.

Honda Motor Company

Honda aims at 120% product quality; they feel that if 99% of the products are perfect with satisfied customer base, however, the remaining one percent will be the dissatisfied customers (CSR report, 2011).Therefore, the founder Soichiro Honda aims at 120% in product quality. The determination runs high in the company and new initiatives to receive higher product quality are made to define the company's drive towards high quality.

To products offered at Honda gain immense trust by the customers due to their safety and outstanding quality. To stay ahead and keep up with the current achievement in quality, Honda has developed a quality cycle at each stage of its input, process and output. The process includes controls in the design, development, production and sales service (CSR, 2011).

At Honda production, parts and materials are outsourced globally and share global quality assurance which is essential for 120% improvement in the quality of products.All the facilities of Honda around the world are based on quality standards os ISO certification.

This way all around the world Honda facilities are certified and communication of quality products that Honda produces are gathered and told. This way issues do not recur and all facilities are ISO certified (CSR, 2011).

Honda's Quality Cycle

The quality cycle at Honda is based on design and development, production preparations and facilitates manufacturing control techniques. This limits variability and a new level of outstanding quality vehicle is produced (CSR, 2011).

Design and Development

Quality assurance methods are used from the very beginning of the drawing and then manufacturing process that needs certain expertise in control.

Production preparation

The company builds production processes with ...