Instill a culture of quality into a plethora of dubious suppliers from China

[Stijloor]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

Not that I disagree, but looking at this in a broader pespective (than "just" China ), I can't remember if I've ever heard of quality coming from Egypt in the last few centuries and they do have the pyramids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids

If there are any Egyptians in the Cove, now's the chance to blow your horn

Given the title of this thread, and not to derail this thread, I decided to focus on China only.

Stijloor.

 

[Stijloor]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

If there are any Egyptians in the Cove, now's the chance to blow your horn

Gordon,

Let's not derail this thread. The focus is on China.

Stijloor.

 

[Gordon Clarke]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

Gordon,

Let's not derail this thread. The focus is on China.

Stijloor.

I don't disagree, but I believe the focus was also quickly brought to more than China. India and China (not forgetting a couple of others Asian coutries) have a (oftenly mistaken) reputation for inferior quality.

Tony Wardle's (South Africa) original input that started this thread was:

"8. If you could change the world of quality, what would you do?

Instill a culture of quality into China"

Tony could set me straight, but I understood his "China" to include that as a joint name for countries of which China was the main one.
Tony can you help clarify as to what exactly made you write "China"? Did you really only mean China?

Stijloor, I've noticed that Cove members from India have been very contributive in this thread

 

[Randy]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

Well I don't think there has there been a lack of quality in the Chinese culture for a couple of thousand years. When you look at their concepts of printing, art, explosives, paper, ancient weaponry, cloth, engineering and other areas you cannot find a lack of quality.

What is currently being experienced is more atune to lack of consideration, greed, hap-hazard oversight, and the historical culture of leadership itself that can create "poor quality" as we understand it.

What we have is not poor quality but more a lack of our Euro-American values.

 

[Gordon Clarke]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

Well I don't think there has there been a lack of quality in the Chinese culture for a couple of thousand years. When you look at their concepts of printing, art, explosives, paper, ancient weaponry, cloth, engineering and other areas you cannot find a lack of quality.

What is currently being experienced is more atune to lack of consideration, greed, hap-hazard oversight, and the historical culture of leadership itself that can create "poor quality" as we understand it.

What we have is not poor quality but more a lack of our Euro-American values.

You certainly won't get any arguements from me on the points you make. As to who is you feel is responsible for "lack of consideration, greed, hap-hazard oversight, and the historical culture of leadership itself" - then I'm a little more in doubt.

Personally I don't think any company has ever gone to an "under-developed" country expecting top quality because the wage factor was minimal. Originally, to most (?) it was probably greed.

Of course a company needs profit to survive, but there are many ways of going about making a profit. The drugs and prostitution industries are profitable - it doesn't make them atractive.

I'll bet that we could get both good and bad stories if more with first-hand knowledge and experience made a contribution to this thread. I am aware that a couple of folks have made contributions supporting one or the other side of the coin.

"What we have is not poor quality but more a lack of our Euro-American values". I believe I read recently that more Mercedes are now sold in China than any other country in the world. Chinese are willing to pay for quality too - when they can afford it.
P.S. I'm not a huge fan of Mercedes but it is a good auto.

 

[Gordon Clarke]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

I've mentioned this in another thread but it seems suitable in here too, as it has to do with both China and quality. I was at a Quality exhibition in Stuttgart (Germany) in April and among the many things I saw (and tried) at a Chinese booth was a digital caliper that was as accurate as a standard micrometer. Just think that a caliper could compete with a micrometer! The display read-out was in 0.001 mm / 0.00005" ! I'll admit it wasn't cheap (and neither was it what I consider expensive) but think of what it competes against. As it was a 6" (150 mm) caliper then it "replaces" 6 micrometers, heaven only knows how many internal micrometers (being a caliper it can measure even the smallest hole) and we musn't forget that it also has a depth rod and a step measurement function. It was a Chinese product and produced entirely in China! I've got a good idea of the price but I don't think it's "legal" to mention it in this thread.
Just for the record - everyone that tried it started off with a look of disbelief on their face - until they measured with it. I wish I'd filmed the faces. I've never seen so many walk away shaking their heads - and with a smile. The caliper at the exhibition was a prototype, but I know they've now been put into production.

 

[Randy]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

It doesn't matter whether it's the Chinese, French, American's, British German's or anyone else.......if someone can get away with selling sh*t for steel, they will sell it until caught. That's all that is going on.

 

[tony wardle]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

I don't disagree, but I believe the focus was also quickly brought to more than China. India and China (not forgetting a couple of others Asian coutries) have a (oftenly mistaken) reputation for inferior quality.

Tony Wardle's (South Africa) original input that started this thread was:

"8. If you could change the world of quality, what would you do?

Instill a culture of quality into China"

Tony could set me straight, but I understood his "China" to include that as a joint name for countries of which China was the main one.
Tony can you help clarify as to what exactly made you write "China"? Did you really only mean China?

Stijloor, I've noticed that Cove members from India have been very contributive in this thread

Indeed - I say again - I made this comment based on MY experience, in MY particular industry. I made particular reference to China - as China has become the biggest brother in the textile - and allied industry - supplier or competitor world wide. There is - whether we like it or not - a plethora of dubious suppliers from China, and their strategy of market penetration has - whether we like it or not - had impact on global trading activity. Again - I make the comment based on My industry.
I must also clarify, that I make the comment based on MY experiences, and from what I have seen over the past few years, I know that I will HAVE to trade with China, and there are different perceptions of "quality" between the western norm that I am used to, and those of many Chinese suppliers. Having said that, what the responses to the post make clear, and I have also mentioned, is that there is common understanding that will emerge on what "quality" means.
The melamine / milk saga is an example of this.
I was once told by a supplier in China, that he manufactures goods that are 'fit for purpose", and argued that any additions in the process or product would be a cost that was not needed. He also showed me his "rejects", which he did not consider reject, but rather a product classed as a standard fit for consumption in Pakistan.

Interesting discussion ......

 

[Gordon Clarke]

Re: Instill a culture of quality into China

The melamine / milk saga is an example of this.
I was once told by a supplier in China, that he manufactures goods that are 'fit for purpose", and argued that any additions in the process or product would be a cost that was not needed. He also showed me his "rejects", which he did not consider reject, but rather a product classed as a standard fit for consumption in Pakistan.

Interesting discussion ......

Sorry, but I can't stop this one:
Thank God we don't all live in Pakistan

To be serious again, I find it mind boggling that your supplier would even take that discussion with you. If you as the customer complain, then either your supplier should tell you that he can't deliver or deliver what you want and need. It might cost you more but that is your decision and not his as to whether you'd find this acceptable.

Have you been to China and gone shopping to find out who makes good quality clothes that can be bought in China? They might have a foreign brand name on them but could in fact be produced in China. At any rate it's a good excuse for combining business with pleasure. It could be expensive though if you take your wife!

Personally (only from holidays) I've found that especially Thai (but also Indian) clothes quality to be excellent. Maybe I should in all fairness mention that most of the tailors I've seen in Thailand appear to be from India

 

[vessch]

Re: Quality products from China

My biggest problems with Chinese suppliers have been getting an adequate response/corrective action for defects they have shipped, and changing materials without notifying me. They actually changed the grade of steel of some brackets they manufactured for us (cost-save of course) without notifying us. Honestly, as a career-quality professional I would rather deal with almost any other country. I know there are great Chinese suppliers, I just haven't had experience with any yet!