Honda Won’t Sacrifice Quality In Chasing China’s Lightning Development Times
Honda prioritizes quality over speed in new model development, despite pressure from Chinese rivals.
Key Takeaways
- Honda prioritizes quality over speed in new model development.
- The company feels pressure from Chinese rivals to bring advanced cars to market faster.
- Honda is updating its quality control systems to maintain its reputation for reliability and customer loyalty.
What Is Honda’s Quality Control Strategy?
Honda’s quality control strategy is centered around ensuring that each process in the development phase ensures the quality of the cars or components.
According to American Honda president and chief executive Eiji Fujimura, the company makes sure each process ensures that the cars or components are okay from a quality point of view and doesn’t move through to the next step without confirming the previous step’s quality.
How Does Honda Prioritize Quality?
Honda prioritizes quality by having a separate quality department that is responsible for ensuring that every single new technology meets the company’s quality standards.
Executive Vice President of Honda Motor Noriya Kaihara noted that Honda’s quality department is completely separate from other departments, and that quality is always Honda’s number one concern.
What Happens If Things Go Wrong?
If things do go wrong, Honda notes it’s crucial to react quickly and provide prompt resolutions to customers.
Kaihara noted that slow fixes, especially for serious software or hardware issues, can quickly erode customer faith in a brand.
How Does Honda Compare to Its Rivals?
Honda faces increased pressure to make more advanced cars and bring them to market faster than ever, partly to compete with rivals emerging from China.
The company is aware that it needs to compete with its rivals in terms of software, ADAS, and other technologies, but it is committed to maintaining its reputation for reliability and customer loyalty.
What Are the Implications of Honda’s Quality Control Strategy?
Honda’s quality control strategy has implications for the company’s reputation and customer loyalty.
By prioritizing quality over speed, Honda is sending a message to its customers that it is committed to delivering reliable and high-quality vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Honda’s approach to quality control?
Honda has a separate quality department that ensures every single new technology meets the company’s quality standards.
Q: How does Honda prioritize quality?
Honda prioritizes quality by making sure each process in the development phase ensures the quality of the cars or components.
Q: What happens if things go wrong?
If things do go wrong, Honda reacts quickly and provides prompt resolutions to customers.