A Carâs 8 Dimensions of Quality Control
- A Carâs 8 Dimensions of Quality Control
- Introduction
- The Eight Dimensions of Quality Control
- Performance
- Features
- Reliability
- Conformance
- Durability
- Serviceability
- Aesthetics
- Quality
- Revolutionizing Quality in the Automotive Industry
- The Mission of AutoReportCard
Introduction
Car enthusiasts have always had an interest in automobiles. From the early days of the first automobiles ever created, until the present day vehicles (and well into the future), automotive companies have been competing for superiority.
There are plenty of dominant automotive companies in their respected niche markets. For instance, Toyotaâs are well respected in the reliability segment; similarly, Audiâs boast about their higher luxury status. There are plenty of automotive markets that popular automakers have been tapping into for quite some time. Although certain companies fill a niche market better than others, there are plenty of questions to answer about the quantitative evidence that supports any niche marketâs standard. One can ask âWhy is Audi more luxurious than BMW?â or âIs Cadillac a better performance company than Ford?â. The questions can be unlimited in length with zero credible answers. Why can this be? This is because there is no factual evidence that supports the argument. Just like in an everyday debate, the right argument is the one with the best reasoning and parallel evidence to support the argument.
Relating to the automotive sector, it is hard to read any automotive information that has an inkling of subjectivity. Namely, car reviews are not logical because there are more emotions and bias behind the reviews than facts. Thatâs where the AutoReportCard comes into the picture.
The Eight Dimensions of Quality Control
Long before the establishment of the AutoReportCard was the eight dimensions of quality. The theory of product quality management was intellectualized by a Harvard Business School Professor by the name of David A. Garman. After he died in 2017, he was admired for his contribution to the case method. To this day, Garmanâs eight dimensions of quality are well-respected and used in several business sectors to quantify quality standards. Although some of the dimensions are close in context, rest assure that the qualities are different. There may be a strength of a specific product; whereas, that same product might have a weakness in another area. Knowing these trade-offs can help define a product (and a company), which can lead to an authoritative advantage in said industry. The eight dimensions of quality are as follows:
Performance
The level of proficiency of a productâs functions. Performance is calculated by specific niche characteristics. These specified characteristics are ranked without bias and are hallmarks to the success of a product. There are cases where performance is subjective; however, an overall view of these preferences is so general that it can still be objectified.
Features
Additional traits of a product that improves the attractiveness to the owner. This can be a secondary aspect of performance in some products. Think of features as an adjunct to the primary needs of performance, often adding value but different than the basic functions of said product.
Reliability
The standard of trustworthiness or performing consistently well. Overall, reliability is the credibility that a productâs coexisting parts will last its said life without sooner replacement. The user will have a goal to withstand time effectively with no malfunctions or failures.
Conformance
The specified standards that a product is said to meet. All products are required to meet general (and sometimes stringent) specifications. These specifications are meant to comply with rules set by regulators in said industry.
Durability
The extent of a productâs lifespan. Although it is more difficult to estimate the stability of a product when itâs able to be repaired, durability is the length that a product will last without needing to be replaced. A durable product is different from a reliable product because durable products talk about the lifespan of a product as a whole versus the trust in the maintenance between services.
Serviceability
The speed and ease of fixing a productâs errors. The speedier the recovery of a product, the more serviceable it is. Also, the easier the product is to maintain, the more serviceable it is. Serviceability also points at the service person; because of the added variable, the serviceability relies on both the product and the service person as factors.
Aesthetics
Also known as âStyleâ, aesthetics are known as a subjective dimension of a product because these rankings pertain to an ownerâs personal preferences. Usually, this is the reaction that an owner has to the productâs appearance; however, it can pertain to a productâs feel, sound, taste, or smell.
Quality
The standard that is given to a product based on implied measures. These measures are also known as a productâs (or companyâs) reputation. Perception is not always reality; therefore, perceived quality can be biased.
Revolutionizing Quality in the Automotive Industry
Although the eight dimensions of quality management are a great start in defining a product, there is one significant flaw in the system. The problem is that the dimensions are too general for a specified industry. Since this is an automotive blog, the goal is to quantify quality for the automotive industry. Thatâs where the revolution of the eight dimensions of quality comes into the picture. The evolution of automotive quality is the phrase used to distinguish a newer system of product quality. This new system is derived from Garmanâs dimensions and is specialized for vehicles in the automotive industry. In time, the AutoReportCard found its first (of many) fields to explore in the automotive industry.
The Mission of AutoReportCard
Here at the AutoReportCard, the information presented strays away from the typical bias seen on a majority of automotive pieces (specifically articles, blogs, reviews, and even some automotive company websites). The information is quantitative in quality standards. Ultimately, the information from the AutoReportCard is important to the automotive industry because of its honesty.