Carmaker Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) received recognition for its exceptional standard of quality manufacturing of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicle, produced at the company’s East London facilities, in the Eastern Cape.

The East London-based plant received a gold award in the Europe and Africa category from JD Power & Associates, a global market- ing information company. The plant awards are based solely on average levels of defects and malfunctions and exclude design-related problems.

“This is something that MBSA has been striving for since it first pursued the Mercedes-Benz C-Class manufac- turing contract in 1998, and later, when the company started exporting the cars to international markets. MBSA wanted to prove that it is capable of producing quality products at the most exacting global quality standard, in South Africa,” says MBSA CEO Hansgeorg Niefer.

Niefer adds that the company has insti- tuted a quality management system, and adheres to a strict quality ethos at the manufacturing plant.

In 2007 and 2008, the MBSA plant ranked first in a JD Power & Associates initial quality study. The study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehi- cle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.

The study is used extensively by manu- facturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. Initial quality has been shown over the years to be an excellent predictor of long-term durability, which can signi- ficantly effect consumer purchase deci- sions.

The study captures the challenges expe- rienced by owners in two distinct categories, which are design-related problems, and defects and malfunctions.

The 2009 initial quality study was based on responses from more than 80 900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model cars, trucks and multiactivity vehicles that were surveyed after 90 days of ownership.

The study is based on a 228-question battery, designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate identifying problems and drive product improvement. The study was conducted between February and May 2009.

Niefer says that the latest award empha- sises the consistency of MBSA’s suppliers and that it is an award that can be attributed to the whole supply chain.

“Of the utmost importance has been the commitment from MBSA’s employees, who have relentlessly pursued the highest manufacturing standards, displaying great passion and an unwavering attitude for achieving the best quality. “The best aspect of these awards is that they show that MBSA can achieve con- sistent, sustainable results in high-quality manufacturing,” he notes.

JD Power & Associates automotive research vice-president David Sargent explains that more manufacturers are manufacturing higher-quality vehicles and consumers can expect the standards to continually improve.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.