Applications Of Quality Tools In Heavy Vehicle Industry

The auto industry – Imperatives on cost and quality

- Mukund Pant

While the wider market has witnessed a slowdown in the last few months, CV majors have faced it for a lot longer this decade; multiple firms have even invested heavily in focused consulting projects to drive cost savings and profitability. Such has been the focus on cost-saving that no facet has been left unexplored. Even items like the thickness of tyre walls have been the subject of discussion around whether a small reduction that didn’t impact quality could yield upsides.

Similarly, there has been tremendous investment in research to drive fuel efficiency, weight reduction, etc. In metals particularly, there has been a focus on micro-alloys and special alloys that reduce costs without compromising quality – e.g., reducing weight while retaining/increasing strength, driving better fuel efficiency or substituting expensive alloying elements with lower-cost ones while not compromising material characteristics.

These efforts have run parallel with the ceaseless focus on ensuring that all materials are of the highest quality in terms of toughness, weight, corrosion resistance and strength while also being the most economical. The two pursuits seem not just at odds with each other, but also antithetical at times. Yet, the nature of the industry makes it impossible to take either one lightly or even weigh either as being more important. This is where smarter quality management helps firms across in driving value – meeting all quality objectives while simultaneously reducing costs.

Quality management – The toughest balancing act