The Quality Control between Canon and Nikon Cameras - Case Study Example

Business Name: Institution: Introduction This paper seeks to explore, compare and evaluate the effectiveness of the quality control between the companies manufacturing Canon and Nikon cameras. Bothe their headquarters are in Tokyo Japan. For year the two companies have been in competition with each other that saw the growth of each individual company to greater heights. Both Nikon and Canon inc. are traded in the Tokyo stock exchange. The two companies produce similar products and thus compete for the market share. This competition has caused the two companies to invest in strategies that would see either of them on top of the other in market share. Among the strategy which is quality control. In this paper I will submit research on the strategies used and their effectives in winning the market share. Literature Review Nikon Company was founded in the year 1917; it was then named the Japan Optical company (Nippon Kogaku K.K.) until the year 1988 when its name was changed to Nikon[Nik14]. The formation of the company was due to the merger of three leading optical manufacturers in the 25th of July in the same year. 1918 saw the company start the manufacture of optimal glass to be used in cameras. Later in the year 1932 NIKKOR was adapted as a brand name for Camera lenses but the year 1946 the company decided to give the brand name NIKON for the small-sized cameras. After the world war two the company shifted production to microscopes, binoculars, surveying instruments, measuring instruments, ophthalmic lenses and cameras. Four years later saw the company being listed in both the Osaka and Tokyo stock exchange. The company has since been listed in the Tokyo stock exchange to date. In 2010 the company changed its head office to the Shin-Yurakucho Building still in Tokyo[Nik141]. Canon company started first with the founding of the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory  in Tokyo in the year 1933 by Goro Yoshida, Takeo Maeda, Takeshi Mitarai and  Saburo Uchida. In the following year the company launched a prototype for japans firs ever 35mm camera that had a focal plane based shutter. Two years after the world war two the company changed its name to Canon Camera Co Inc. which was later shortened to Canon Inc in 1969. 1962 saw the company develop its first five year plan as a preparation to full enter the business machines market. Fourteen years later saw the company launching its premier company plan, this it deed with the aim of becoming a global company. Subsequent years since have seen the company producing camera lenses and printing machines of different abilities[Can15]. The company is listed as a primary company in the Tokyo Stock Exchange and as a secondary company in the New York Stock exchange. The beginning of the year 2015 saw the company being listed as the tenth largest public company when measured by market capitalization. Quality definition by companies. Canon This company defines quality as the ability to confirm and maintain product safety and achieve a high level of no complaints and trouble. It also categorizes it as the ability to produce safe products to customers while giving them a piece of mind and a high level of satisfaction. It is also the set up of stringent control measures in every stage that is planning, development, production sales and after sales services. Nikon This company defined quality as the ability to be trustworthy and creative. Providing products that exceed the customers’ expectations, those that contribute to the healthy development of the society, those that are creatively and efficiently manufactured and yet enhance brand value. The providing of high quality distinctive products to the market that are safe and environmental friendly that all together can earn the customers’ and community’s trust. Quality of products / services they offer. Nikon According the customer affairs, Nikon observes a good quality of service for their customers. They replace any defections that their product may come with. They have centers in all the cities they are represented in. There service takes place. Specifically Nikon company customers prefer their cameras to any of their other products. The characteristics that matter to them most are the image quality of the camera and the portability and battery length of it. The ability of the customers to get clear pictures lead to the satisfaction of Nikon customers. The main issue that the customers quote for this product is its price. They claim that it is very expensive[Cam15]. Canon Canon has received award and recommendations for their products and the way they operate their business. They received the PCMag.com award for their excellent service and reliability. They also received an oustanding achievement award from the buyers’ laboratory Compare and evaluate the effectiveness of quality control in these companies Nikon As a way of implementing the Basic Quality Policy, The Company has established a Quality Control Directive (QCD) as its guide in quality control. 1) Quality Control Committee This committee deliberates and makes decisions concerning important issues to deal wit the Basic Quality Policy. Additionally it strives to improve on quality control systems and also conduct frequent reviews to make sure the systems operate efficiently[Nik142]. 2) ISO 9001 certification and consistent compliance with the "Quality First" policy The Business in this company is conducted inline with the quality manual based on the Quality Control directive or the use of the ISO 9001. It is necessary for groups that do business with this company to acquire ISO 9001.Additionaly, the business and its partners make agreements based on the understanding of quality first policy. Every year business partners and staff of this company must attend a monthly lecture so as to increase quality related skill for staff and partners. Year ending March 2014 saw Mr. Toshio Tsukahara from the Japan Institute of Human Factors to give a lecture on quality. This lecture was attended by 54 director and employees of the Nikon group as well as 97 employees of the company’s partners. 3) Quality control audits Under the responsibility of the chairperson of the committee quality control audits are conducted basing them on the QCD. At the Audits both the quality control activities undertaken at the Nikon group of companies and the Nikon Corporation are checked, inspected and evaluated in order to assist the companies to improve the quality of the operations of the business operations and their product quality. The companies are required to make improvements and corrections based on the quality control; report. The very important finding from the report is taken to the Executive Committee where they are used in the improvement of internal controls. Quality control audits were undertaken in the year ended 31st March 2014 at five departments at five major group companies and the Nikon Corporation. 4) Product safety assurance Due consideration in the company is given to safety of their products through out their life cycle, from the time they are first planned for manufacture. Relevant international standard are used in the design of the products as follow up on the safety design principle that they formulated. The product safety is then confirmed through the design reviews and inspection carried during the process of production. Safety certification is also obtained from third-party certification bodies where necessary. The product of this company passes through the Product Safety Test Room that ensures that only safe products reach the customers. This facility has passed the specific certification criteria is set by the international standard that is controlled by the TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH which is certification body that tests laboratories in Europe. 50 test reports were published in the fiscal year ended 31st March 2014 that collated the results of various tests that were conducted. Information Disclosure in Case of a Safety-Related Problem In the event of a problem with either quality or product, Customers get informed on it as fast as possible while the company takes counter measures to make sure that the problem is contained. Thorough investigations are then done on the matter.  Canon Making a total commitment to canon Quality This company has their employees belonging to different specialist and product related division to enhance quality. These employees are always mindful of every aspect of their work. Employees are educated continuously on quality through the company’s effort to share basic philosophy and Motto on quality. The company also strives to build a corporate culture that continually and collectively seek out ways to enhance quality. The year 2013 saw the company bolster training on the quality of the company products as well as revamping the cannon quality introductory guide which provides the introduction to the approach of canon on quality and the Canon Quality guide book that provided a broad overview of the company’s quality assurance activities. This was done as an effort to raise awareness about quality. Continual Improvements to Quality Assurance Systems Through the establishment of the quality management system that combines the requirements of the ISO 9001 that is an international quality management systems standard with those features that are unique to Canon like their response means to problem when they occur. The company quality management headquarters works in corporation with various product operations and also holds regular meetings with manufacturing groups and marketing companies through out the world in order to utilize quality assurance systems tailored to each business and region in accordance with the regulatory and legal standards of each region and country they sell to. The company introduced the quality innovation strategy committee which is under the Management Strategies committee. The responsibility of the committee is to the companies wide efforts focused on quality improvement from product planning development, design, sales production and sales service. The committee finished its activities in February 2013. A new quality improvement experts committee was formed with the aim of taking the efforts to the next level. The newly formed committee is divided into five sub committees that take part in the vertically integrated activities to solve challenges faced by individual product operations and horizontal integrated activities that aim to resolve the company’s wide issues. This committee’s activities assist canon to pursue its quality first agenda. Soft ware or IT they use to facilitate the quality control process Canon The Tamagawa Plant's General Measurement Testing Laboratory Quality Assessment Center The company has a general measurement testing laboratory inside the Tamagawa plant that serves as a centre for quality testing and evaluation. Different testing facilities are included in the laboratory including the semi-anechoic chamber that measures the levels of electro magnetic radiation emitted by the products .This makes it possible to investigate the possibility of the products malfunction due to the effect of static electricity discharge and lighting surges. The hemi-anechoic room and the acoustic test labs are used to measure operation noise levels. The lab also has the flame resistant testing of the material making the products. This laboratory is certified base on the ISO/IEC 17025 and the ISO 7779 which is a mark of environmental preservation. Human-Scale Measurement and Evaluation Technologies Currently the company is working on the development of technologies able to measure and assess the physiological reaction of users. This is done by the measure of brain waves, blood circulation, myoelectric potential and eye movement. This in tern makes it possible to digitize the way in which people respond to their products using their senses. This test allows the company to use this data and subjective observations to realize a high physiological evaluation. Chemical Safety Evaluation Technology Volatile chemical compounds emitted during production are measured by the company in order to maintain a harmless environment. The company maintains the highest level of measurement capabilities in the industry. Its chemical emission laboratory was awarded ISO/IEC 17025 LSI Failure Analysis Technology The LSIs and other electronic components contained in the laboratories measured the products to determine the absolute product quality. This is done by the employment of a rare component certification system and by applying advanced technologies for the analysis and evaluation. Nikon Bibliography Nik14: , (Nikon, 2014), Nik141: , (Nikon, 2014), Can15: , (Canon Global, 2015), Cam15: , (Campbell, 2015), Nik142: , (Nikon, 2014), Read More