Automotive special report - A holistic approach to quality - Quality control in automotive manufacturing has certainly evolved dramatically over recent years. One of the best examples is the Renault facility in Palencia, Spain

The evolution of quality control in automative manufacturing is exemplified by the Renault facility in Palencia, Spain, where quality improvement is part of its three-pronged Renault Commitment 2009 strategy. New standard processes and methods have been set up under the Renault Production Way (SPR), placing a strong emphasis on personnel responsibility at Renault production plants. A number of concrete measures have been taken to enthrone deep-rooted quality as the centrepiece of the Renault manufacturing system: attentive supplier management, fine-tuned operator training, responsive quality leadership at production plants, and systematic application of certain static and dynamic tests on completion of the production process. Then final vehicle quality is validated by a rigorous Alliance-wide scoring system (known as AVES, for Alliance Vehicle Evaluation Standard), examining over 500 criteria. At the same time, quality improvement actions at production plants are driven by customer feedback, input via the dealer network in real time. Operator training is an essential prerequisite, both for the implementation of standards and for any successful quality drive