ASQ Greater Atlanta Chapter

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Chair's Corner

The Board Communicates

“Life in the Fast Lane”

Within the last few weeks Toyota has been in the news for recalls with brakes, gas pedals, and floor mats among other things. When it first made the news, I listened intently to see if my 2010 Sienna Van was included in the recall. This recall concerned me because my wife is the primary driver of our van which she uses to haul our two boys around in daily. After realizing that our new vehicle was not being recalled, I began to think about the entire situation. Were the recalls due to an engineering problem? A manufacturing problem? A driver problem?

As I pondered the various sources of the problems and solutions, I began to recall my experiences with accelerators, brakes, etc. The conclusion that I have come to, is that there may, in fact, be a problem; but, it is one that has plagued all car manufacturers for years. I can make this statement because I have personal experience with accelerating cars. As a child, my dad had a ’69 Ford LTD. One day, on the way home from school, the car suddenly accelerated which was unusual for that car, normally it slowed unexpectedly because it had run out of gas. After my dad got the car stopped, I remember asking him if we could do that again and he jokingly said, “No, we are out of rocket fuel.” Come to find out the accelerator cable had broken and the gas pedal went straight to the floor causing the sudden acceleration.

Then, as a teenager, in driver’s ed the instructor related a similar story from his teenage years and an accelerator cable breaking on a new 1974 Dodge pickup. The instructor thought the subject was so important that he taught us how to react to the situation. He took it beyond the class room and put us in the exact situation. While practicing our driving, he knocked the car into neutral when we were not expecting it. Then we had to stop the car without wrecking and using the emergency brake. After practicing the maneuver a couple of times, it became easier and made us better drivers.

Based on my experience, the massive recalls and media attention are a knee jerk reaction to an unforeseeable situation. Rather than badgering Toyota, the media could be helping to properly address the problem. The first step needed is corrective action. A few minutes of educating drivers about how to react to the situation would be most helpful. Then, preventative action by all manufacturers is needed. The use of numerous quality tools to determine what causes the problem and how to fix it would be in order. Finally, follow up to insure that the preventative action is working correctly.

However; that is not what has or will happen. Instead, the media ridicules and criticizes Toyota for the problem keeping them in the spot light. The government investigates corporate officials at Toyota and bails out domestic automobile manufacturers. Lawyers file frivolous lawsuits. And, the real problem goes unsolved for all manufacturers for years to come.

As for me, I will continue driving one of my 3 Toyotas. Currently, I own 3 of them (’97 Tacoma pickup, ’99 Camry, and a 2010 Sienna Van). Why? It is because each vehicle has surpassed my expectations in quality and reliability.

As a side note, last week in Ellijay, Georgia the accelerator stuck on a car and crashed into a building sending 35 people to the hospital. Ironically, it was from “the world’s safest car manufacturer”, Volvo. So again, I ask - Is the problem centralized to one automobile manufacturer?

Mike Barnes
Arrangements Committee Chair

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Next Dinner Meeting

March 18, 2010 Dinner Meeting

“The Coca-Cola Company’s approach to Global Quality and Food Safety”

THIS IS NOT THE USUAL MEETING LOCATION!

DUE TO COMPANY SECURITY POLICY, WE CANNOT ACCEPT ON-SITE REGISTRATIONS!

Location: The Coca-Cola Company, One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA
Please see current newsletter for directions and security procedures.

Carletta Ooton is the Vice President and Chief Quality and Product Integrity Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. Her overarching accountability includes global analytical services, audit policy and standards, leading capability development across the system, and quality oversight for the Bottling Investment Group.

Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company in December 2006, Carletta was Vice President of Global Quality for Cott Beverages, which is the largest global provider of retailer-branded carbonated soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages, and purified drinking water. While at Cott, Carletta managed staff in the US, Canada, UK, and Mexico and was responsible for consumer affairs and global quality operations, including co-packer, audit, and manufacturing quality. Carletta was also the primary interface with the Food and Drug Administration and Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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