Tier I automotive offers a clear case study. Quality systems like APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans and Toyota-style problem solving are deeply embedded. Customer audits, massive penalties for quality issues and independent accreditation ensure a minimum compliance level. And still, issues persist.
The most consistent drivers? Complexity and change.
American OEMs often prioritize variety—trims, redesigns, configurability. Japanese automakers rely more on shared platforms and stable designs. Limiting frequency of change and complexity consistently leads to more reliable outcomes.
Auto is just one example of a broader industrial challenge: quality depends not only on execution, but on upstream discipline—restraint in design, focus in marketing, and a willingness to simplify. This is cultural.
Tier I automotive offers a clear case study. Quality systems like APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, control plans and Toyota-style problem solving are deeply embedded. Customer audits, massive penalties for quality issues and independent accreditation ensure a minimum compliance level. And still, issues persist.
The most consistent drivers? Complexity and change.
American OEMs often prioritize variety—trims, redesigns, configurability. Japanese automakers rely more on shared platforms and stable designs. Limiting frequency of change and complexity consistently leads to more reliable outcomes.
Auto is just one example of a broader industrial challenge: quality depends not only on execution, but on upstream discipline—restraint in design, focus in marketing, and a willingness to simplify. This is cultural.