The automotive supplier Continental Automotive Systems (www.conti-online.com), a supplier of braking systems, has started a worldwide quality program designated Q3.BIC, the aim of which is to make Continental products the Best In Class — in terms of technology, cost and quality.
A number of divisions are participating in this program, which includes consistent analysis and improvement of processes, methods and procedures in order to fulfill all the requirements. A decisive contribution will be made by the product development and supplier management process intended to make Continental Automotive Systems “fit” for their zero-fault target. Concurrently, cross-area procedures have been developed for closer cooperation not only with the motor vehicle manufacturers, but also with their own suppliers. This also includes development processes that make it impossible for faults to occur and, therefore, excludes the possibility of the product failing when it is subsequently with the customer.
“With our objective of zero-fault quality we are optimizing our activities at a very early stage of development and integrating all parties in this process who have a role to play in this product — i.e., also including our suppliers and customers,” explained Dietmar Siemssen, chief director of quality and environment at Continental Automotive Systems. And, “We are now successful because in the past we were outstanding in terms of technology and costs — and still are today. Quality as our third core competence puts us on course for continuing this success into the future.”
