"Total" quality put to the test

According to Jean-Phillipe Neuville, the Japanese management methods of 'just-in-time' and 'total' quality are the result of the economics of diversity. Several months spent in two European factories has led him to consider these methods as wishful thinking. 'Non-quality' is everywhere and stocks have simply been moved! Perhaps, in fact, the model was misunderstood, since it was not just a technical model but also included the essential dimension of management philosophy. This is Pierre-Marie Gallois' opinion. Stocks could simply be a symptom of the malfunctioning of the system. In any case, according to Carlos Ghosn they are not at the heart of the '100% quality' programme at Renault. The model is not rigid : it is a toolbox to be used with care to fulfil specific objectives.