Supplier Quality and Reliability Assurance Practices in the Spanish Automotive Components Industry: a study of implemenation patterns

This paper reports some empirical observations of the way in which the Spanish auto components industry is implementing supplier quality and reliability practices. The findings are examined in relation to four hypotheses. Amongst the main conclusions of the study is that there is an apparently large group of suppliers who, in spite of implementing a range of quality management preventative practices, still undertake considerable component and product inspection, and they tend to be stuck in the old quality paradigm of detection. It is also pointed out that suppliers more advanced in the use of quality practices are achieving better operational performance in terms of quality, reliability, cost, flexibility and design.