Mercedes-Benz South Africa's manufacturing plant in East London has received a top award in the J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) for the second year in succession, this time achieving the Platinum Plant Quality Award.
Last year, the plant received the 2009 IQS Gold Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles with the fewest defects and malfunctions of any plant in the Europe and Africa region that serve the U.S. market. This year's award, however, is for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects and malfunctions of any automotive plant supplying the U.S. market.
With only 28 defects per 100 vehicles, the East London plant, which produces the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for both the local and the U.S. market, has risen to the top of all global plants that serve the U.S. market.
The J.D. Power and Associates IQS study captures problems experienced by owners in two categories - design-related problems, as well as defects and malfunctions. Plant awards are based solely on defect and malfunction.
"Daimler's East London plant has been a top performing plant and its achievement in 2010 is particularly impressive. Daimler's rigorous quality management processes are a key reason for why the brand has been able to assemble consistently high-quality vehicles in different regions of the world," said Brian Walters, vice president of Europe, Middle East and Africa operations at J.D. Power and Associates.
The 2010 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 82 000 U.S. purchasers and lessees of 2010 model-year vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study, which took place between February and May 2010, is based on a 228-question battery designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate identification of problems and to drive product improvement.
"To receive such an award despite the relentless pressure and stresses of the global recession over the past two years, points to the brilliant quality of our people and processes," says Dr Hansgeorg Niefer, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
MBSA's East London plant has also been honoured in the J.D. Power and Associates South Africa Initial Quality Study (IQS), which is based on survey responses from South African owners. In the 2007 and 2008 South Africa IQS studies, the East London plant was ranked highest among South African automotive plants in initial quality.
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