Strategies for feedback on reliability and robustness from automobile warranty data
by Bharatendra K. Rai
International Journal of Product Development (IJPD), Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009

Abstract: Yearly warranty cost of major automobile companies runs into billions of dollars. In addition, market- driven need for wider warranty coverage exposes these companies to the risk of higher warranty spending. Warranty cost reduction programmes have thus become a major objective and challenge in these companies. Towards this, warranty data that capture vehicle failures in field conditions contain rich source of information for useful feedback to designers and engineers working on current and forward model vehicles for reliability and robustness improvements. However, obtaining accurate feedback using warranty data becomes challenging due to issues involving data quality. This paper presents strategies for automobile warranty data analysis that helps obtain meaningful feedback towards reliability and robustness improvements leading to warranty cost reduction. Role of hazard plots in giving clues about nature of noise factors that influence failure is presented. Strategies for stratification of warranty data in terms of customer-reported concerns and/or parts reported to be the cause of failure to prioritise reliability and robustness improvement projects are discussed. Uses of geographic plots in gaining insight about seasonality and location effect are also provided.

Online publication date: Sun, 29-Mar-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Product Development (IJPD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com