Excerpt

"Betts job is to find exactly what's wrong with Chrysler's current crop of products, how to get it fixed and how to make sure future products stand out for the right reasons."

Well here is a crash course:

1) There is a difference between Six Sigma on paper and Six Sigma in action. You won't see the benefits of a Six Sigma Initiative unless every employee is fully trained, motivated, and full grasps the concepts in a fashion that allows he/she to apply the principles to their everyday job duties

The above item was basically an umbrella, and here are the specifics

2) Designs should be verified with more real-world testing. They need to do more "what if" scenarios with respect to not only use in the field, but manufacturing as well. If they feel that a particular area of the vehicle may be prone to being installed incorrectly or forgotten altogether, then the design should be modified to mediate that potential issue. Sometimes, cost cutting through more simple designs will actually yield to more reliable functionality. This can be achieved through VA/VE events.

2) Bridge the gap between "intended design" and "actual outcome". Most of the glitches with the Patriot are not due to design, rather poor process control. There is a serious disconnect in this department between the two. Granted, I know that the morale at Chrysler is no where remotely high but if you are unable to get assembly line workers to do the job right just for the sake of the job, then you need to introduce either a system of "rewards" or a system of accountability. Heck, do both. Do you know how many leaks would be prevented if the assembly line worker responsible for that area slapped on a circular adhesive label which would align with that gasket/hole near the rear dome light. That label would have the assembly line worker's ID # on it, along with a date and time code. In order to put the label on, you basically are forced to look at the hole and see if it is covered up. Honda introduced a similar system when the first generation of Accords had rattling dash boards. Once Honda introduced a system of accountability focused on the Dashboard installation process, the rattling was eliminated. Problem solved.

3) Adding the layer of polymeric material to the molded plastic interior trim can actually prevent rattling and increase durability of the plastic. Believe it or not, that thin layer of material can actually be somewhat of a shock absorber while keeping mating molded parts together tighter. I know this is more expensive...but someone should do the cost savings for all of the in-warranty repair expenses from door rattles, dashboard rattles, and molded parts separating.

4) There are many others on my mind but I am hungry and need to cook dinner. I'll prob come back and edit and add the rest.

 

I better move to Europe. I feel the same about cup holders. Useless, junk collectors.

Good to see they are getting a handle on all types of quality. I hope is works and works fast.

I like what I saw in the new Grand Cherokee interior pictured.....If were in a Chrysler. It says New Yorker, or Imperial, not Jeep.

 

I feel the same about cup holders. Useless, junk collectors.

Cup holders??? And here I thought they were integrated dishes for peanuts. Gotta have peanuts when on long trips you know...

 

Quality what?

Look at the latest recall:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gm_recall

 

"The government says drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine."

There usually is a "fire" in the engine, that is what makes it go. :doh:

 

It's GREAT to have Betts working at Chrysler to fix all these problems. As I m still waiting for the factory to built my 09 Patriot Ltd, hope these improvements will be included b/f the Jeep is delivered.

 

How long is the lead time on the order? What are the specs that you're getting. Are you getting an FDII?

 

Makes me happy that I won't be able to get a Patriot probably until they start making '10 models. As for cup holders, well... when driving for several hours by my lonesone down a straight, boring freeway, I consider cup holders to be a safety feature. Having something to drink helps keep me alert and having a place to put it keeps it from getting spilled and distracting me or huring me, in the case of hot coffee.

I'm not surprised that Europeans general feel that cup holders are unneccessarry. If most of them drive in there car for that long, they will be one or more countries removed from where they started.

-SR-

 

Nicely put. On my 8 hour drives, caffeine is my friend

 

"Not a single product Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep sells is currently recommended by Consumer Reports, largely because of below average "predicted reliability" as measured by owner surveys. Chrysler brands also rank low in J.D. Power surveys of dependability and usability."

Sorry but if Consumer Reports says it I do not believe it. they are so biased and untruthful I have not believed them since the 60's. J.D. powers is a little more believable. I do not know how Consumer Reports conducts their surveys, but all too often their ratings just do not make sense. and if you are one of Japanese foreign car producers they seem to love you no matter what. I have owned foreign and domestic and found CU's evaluations lacking on both. I know it's just my opinion based on my experience but I wouldn't accept a free subscription to Consumer Reports, it's a waste of paper and ink and my time to put it in the recycle bin.

 

What's more, when I first started looking at the Patriot seriously, I found a comparison between it and the other crossovers in the same class on CU's website. When I saw that the reliability ratings weren't very good, I decided to see what they said... but there was no data there. They just ranked everything 4.0/10.0 across the board. It seemed to me that, that was their default rating for things they didn't have data on yet. Other vehicles had data that should specifics of the ratings of various reliability categories. All of the vehicles that didn't have any data at all were just ranked 4.0/10.0. So, where's the data.

In a different thread, the topic of Chrysler's quality came up. One member mentioned that Chrysler's quality was rated low by various publications and another member brought up that at least Chrysler's providing a lifetime powertrain warranty, to which the first member responded that warranty does not imply quality. While warranty doesn't imply quality (this is true), I definitely put more trust in that warranty than I do in a magazine's "quality" ratings. The magazine isn't going to pay to fix your broken-down vehicle if it's quality rating system predicts the quality of your vehicle to be higher than it really is.

-SR-

 

"Unexplained fires are a thing of the past,
Canyonero........Canyonero!"

 

We have the Consumer reports discussion all of the time. Consumer Reports is a shameless Rag like the National Inquirer but until it is discredited in the same way, CR will continue to be an authority on pre purchase information. It is very similar to having a government representative who is doing a poor, self serving or destructive job, but keeps winning elections.

 

I like the analogy as it seems both are highly subject to lobbying efforts and being paid off.

 

If those genius are as good to correct quality for vehicles as they are to manage economy...well, good luck to us all!. Never seen so many specialists failing so poorly in their own field of competency. But they do get a bonus don't they? This is part of the financial crisis.

 

consumer reports does not check their facts until after articles are published.

I just rechecked their 10 best and saw they revised the toyota rav 4 blurb to not mention that it has the best fuel economy of any non hybrid SUV.

If you believe consumer reports, I have some ocean front property in Kentucky to sell you. I'll make you a great deal!

quality? They should look at total number of recalls for 2008. I believe toyota leads the way!

toyota rav 4 22/28
jeep compass/patriot 23/28

according to EPA estimates anyway.

- Dan M

 

Quality is more in experience than reports

I have had great experiences with Chrysler and US cars
PAT,
Neon,
Liberty,
Cherokee Sport,
Olds 98,

Neon being my favorite car in the bunch, +200K miles and no problems,
Still on original clutch, original Fuel Filter, Etc.

know many import owners who brag about the quality of their cars even when the cars in the shop,
Cousin loved his BMW x5, fully loaded even though it was in the shop 5 times the first year,
and he got around in his 15 yr old jeep wrangler more so than his x5
another cousin on her rav 4, spends about $1K-$3K a year in repairs,
yet claims great quality,


me on the other hand,
dont think the quality of the pat or neon is the greatest,
but neon with 200K miles and no repairs other than routine maintenance,
and pat with 44K miles and only issue early on was minor and resolved,
does dirty tranny fluid at 20K miles count as a problem?


i;ll gladly take a mediocre car that went 200K miles without a repair
over a high ranking high quality car that is in the shop every month

 

know many import owners who brag about the quality of their cars even when the cars in the shop,
Cousin loved his BMW x5, fully loaded even though it was in the shop 5 times the first year

I work down the road from a BMW dealer (1 to 1.5 miles). I see BMWs on flat beds being hauled there every day.

Several of my friends recently purchased BMW's. All have had to take their vehicle in the shop for issues not related to recall or routine maintenance.

- Dan M

 

And since they don't have AMC (-50 points) to kick around anymore they now pick on the owner of AMC -- probably reason enough for them to give negative points.

 

If the darn Government had let Chrysler go in 78, AMC would be one of the Big 3 now!

 

it's too late



unfortunately now it's too late,unless America enters into some major international economical conflict where trading with China,Korea or Japan would be interrupted,then I don't think much can be done for the US automobile industry,yes,there will be left some but it will be only a skinny shadow of former glory


on the other hand this is a very good news for those wishing to support American jobs and a good news for those that wish to drive a great vehicle like the Jeep

 

The Feds are making GM recall cars that are 11 years old for an oil leak???? How stupid is that-maost cars that old have or will have some sort of oil seepage from somewhere on the motor-my current 99 Dodge Intrepid ES does, no recall there of a chance of it catching fire anytime soon.
Tom
What are they going to fix a leaking valve cover gasket_please stop the stupidity

 

Next we'll start having maintenance police.

 

CR's take on the 2009 Patriot

Based on CR's comments in the 2009 annual Auto issue, I question whether CR actually did a test drive. My suspicion is that this was a replay of their 2008 review with all the criticisms intact except for a few modifying comments.

The 2009 improvements are downplayed.

Examples: Engine noise is reduced somewhat, Interior fit and finish is slightly improved , off-road package allows "some off-road capability", ride is OK but lacks agility, driving position is narrow, reliability is above average but the Patriot scores too low to be recommended.

 

Based on CR's comments in the 2009 annual Auto issue, I question whether CR actually did a test drive. My suspicion is that this was a replay of their 2008 review with all the criticisms intact except for a few modifying comments.

CR & other auto/truck mag's annual reviews are usually a carry over write-ups from prior years with minor updates, it is highly unlikely that they drove every 09s (unless it is a brand new model). Their negative bias on Jeeps continues even though the Patriot have improved in many areas compare to 07s & 08s. IMHO, if you are looking for a sm/med size SUV, the Patriot is easily the one to beat in this segment. Until these bone-head journalists wake up & do some non bias road tests, American made cars will always be in last place.