Goodyear achieves highest audited quality scores ever

A recent international process and product quality (PPQ) audit at Goodyear’s Uitenhage tyre manufacturing facility has earned the local company its best ever scores.

Dustine Gascoyne, group marketing director, says Goodyear’s PPQ audits are conducted annually by five international auditors – each an expert in an aspect of tyre manufacture. “Through a stringent checklist of international criteria, these auditors evaluate the extent to which our process control delivers consistent, repeatable quality. Clearly, the higher the score, the better our control over process and quality, which in turn means less bad product and fewer returns. Ultimately, our customers are assured of the consistent, excellent quality of Goodyear’s products.”

Gascoyne says the long-term requirements of Goodyear’s market have been analysed and manufacturing facilities developed to align with customers’ ever-changing needs. “Goodyear’s continued investment in its manufacturing facility in Uitenhage, and consequent further increase of its 4×4 and ultra high performance (UHP) capacity, ensures that our products retain the quality that is epitomised by the Goodyear brand. There is more demand for 4×4 tyres for SUVs. We are aligning our quality and product performance with trends in the market and with international competition. We’re also staying a step ahead of our customers to ensure we will always be able to deliver exactly what they need,” he adds.

Theo Bezuidenhout, Goodyear technical team leader for systems and audits, explains that PPQ audits are usually planned but the latest one had come unexpectedly. “In 2012, we celebrated when the Uitenhage plant achieved its highest ever PPQ score. This year, PPQ auditors dropped in unannounced. Still, the audit score managed to top the earlier high. Goodyear South Africa continues to go from strength to strength.”