Question

In today’s business environment, there is no single definition of quality. Discuss the Takata’s airbags currently under recall using one (1) of the definitions of quality.

What do you think leaders of Honda, Toyota, and Chrysler could have done differently to minimize the impact of this recall?

Make at least 200 words, thank you.

Answer 1

The concept of quality is much more complicated than it appears.The definitions given in dictionary are not usually adequate in helping a quality expert to identify with the concept. It usually appears that different quality professional has defined quality in somewhat different manner. There are various perspectives of quality that can be taken into account while defining quality, for example customer's perspective. specification-based perspective.

The most appropriate definition of quality in the light of currently under recall of Takata's airbag is Juran's definition of quality i.e "fitness for intended use".

Takata started making airbags in 1988, as of 2014,held 20% of the market. On June 23, 2014, the automotive world was bustling about the massive airbag recall by auto manufacturers BMW, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota manufactured by Takata Corporation. The reason was that they could rupture and send flying debris inside the vehicle. Approximately 42 millions vehicles are affected in U.S and nearly seven millions vehicles haven recalled worldwide. It was the largest and the most massive recall in the U.S. History. NHTSA reports that there have been atleast 24 deaths and 300 injuries worldwide due to defective Takata' s defective airbags. The recall was essential to "ensure personal safety".

Takata should implement policies that make obvious that quality has a primary role in design and the authority to discontinue the design process based on quality concerns. It should also lay down criterions on how to recognize quality issues and what constitutes an issue of adequate significance to halt product design.

Automotive recall have become bigger and riskier as the business environment continue to change. Understanding the prospective threat and developing efficient and effective ways to prevent, resolve and eliminate recall are required by automakers in order to succeed in today's industry.

To minimize the recall the automakers could have done the following:-

• Firstly, the recall can be avoided because these automakers knew about the defect, but of the financial reasons they used the bags anyway.
• Secondly business leaders view their operations too narrowly as these companies get away by reducing their decision making to risk/ benefit calculations. Maximization of profit at all cost is dangerous.
• They should have listen to their employees. They use the bag despite the objection of automaker's own inflater expert.