Also the VCA certification focuses on product and process quality, global sourcing, the reassignment of supplier resources, quality system approach in the supply chain for supplier/subcontractor development and consistency, or in other words manufacturer quality processes. While important, these processes don't necessarily affect the final product's performance in the hands of an end user, at least not initially.
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| While Jaguar and Land Rover's VCA accolades are no doubt justified, they fly in the face of the J.D. Powers VDS study. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
While Jaguar and Land Rovers accolades are no doubt justified according to VCA's study, they fly in the face of the J.D. Powers IQS and VDS studies, for instance. The latter measures problems reported by original owners of 2000 model year vehicles at three years of ownership. It is based on responses from more than 55,000 original owners of 2000 model year cars and light trucks.
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| Although it did well on the VCA study, recognized for excellence in quality, Land Rover scored second to last on both the J. D. Powers Initial Quality Study and Vehicle Dependability Study. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Comprehensive in its breadth, the study covers 147 specific problem symptoms grouped into nine major vehicle systems. J. D. Powers made a change in this year's VDS, reviewing models at three years of ownership instead of the historical four to five-year period. Why? The shorter ownership duration better supports manufacturer product improvement efforts in next-generation replacement models, and after all it's automakers that pay the bills.
While Jaguar places very well, in 11th place out of 37 manufacturers with 247 problems per 100 vehicles, ahead of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Saab, Land Rover places only ahead of Korean automaker Kia, with 441 problems per 100 vehicles. Considering the industry average is 273 problems per 100 vehicles, 441 is not particularly award winning. Land Rover also places second to last in J. D. Power's IQS study, which at least gives them marks for consistency.