Surely one of the most important industries in which to pursue quality is the auto industry. To not do so could prove fatal. But what is this industry doing to strive for quality? Let’s take a look at 4 quality assurance standards used in the auto industry.
1- Continuous Improvement Standards
A major staple in a successful business consists of continuous improvement. When a business engages in continuous improvement, it demonstrates that it is not satisfied with the status quo. It is not satisfied with being like everyone else. It is not even satisfied with being better than everyone else. Instead, there is a whole new standard, one which cannot essentially be met.
Continuous improvement speaks of a standard that is ongoing and never-ending. The auto industry strives to never stop learning and growing but to always improve. One such way this is done is by minimizing waste and improving efficiency through lean manufacturing.
Through various tests and analytical techniques, the auto industry continues to improve its production, workflows, and quality. Through testing and analysis, auto experts identify both weak and strong points in the manufacturing process and thereby pinpoint the needed change.
2- Regulatory Compliance Standards
Regulatory compliance standards govern the actions and practices of the auto industry. In other words, automobile manufacturers cannot simply make cars however they want and choose to sell them. For an automobile manufacturer to be in business, it needs to abide by highly strict regulations and laws that touch on various aspects of the manufacturing process, such as the quality of the parts, safety concerns and standards, emissions, and more.
Surely knowing this about the automobile industry will bring great comfort because safety and quality are of the utmost concern.
3- Product Quality Standards
Multiple checks and tests are done to ensure product quality. Each step of the way, the automobile manufacturers analyze the quality of their work. From crash tests to simulating real-world events such as speed tests and endurance tests, automobile parts and vehicles are being tested to ensure quality.
Not only that but vehicles are again checked for quality before leaving the manufacturer and making their way to a dealership. During these tests, the vehicle is analyzed one last time. Everything from bumpers, brakes, steering wheels, wiring, and nuts and bolts are examined to ensure the quality of the finished product.
4- Customer Service Standards
Finally, the automotive industry is highly concerned about the demands of its customer base. What do the people want? What have they been buying and seeking? What have been their complaints? What can automobile manufacturers do better? In what ways have automobile manufacturers failed, and how can they avoid these failures in the future?
All of these questions and more are a part of the development of quality assurance standards within the automobile industry. Quality goes well beyond ensuring a vehicle is safe. Quality touches every facet of a customer’s desires. Everything from the paint and shape of a vehicle to the dashboard and placement of the air vents is considered for quality assurance standards.
