TITLE:
“Is Quality Ensuring to Get Competitive Advantages in Auto Manufacturing Industries?” —A Study of Volvo Group
AUTHORS:
Muhammed Zakir Hossain, Mayesha Tasnim, Mohammad Raihanul Hasan
KEYWORDS:
Quality, Total Quality Management, Costs of Quality, Competitive Advantages, Volvo
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Industrial and Business Management,
Vol.7 No.1,
January
22,
2017
ABSTRACT: In today’s business world “Total Quality Management” strategy is utmost
important for a company in order to survive in the rapidly growing competitive
market. It helps a company to increase the level of competence and allows it to
compete in the market. To meet expected superior need of customers, Volvo
delivers cleaner, safer and smarter transport solutions by concentrating on
solutions-based approach since its inception. This core value of Volvo is
urging to conduct a qualitative study on quality of Volvo toward attaining
competitive advantage. This study attempted to investigate the role of quality
management on Volvo’s competitiveness through a case study method. While
exploring the secondary data, this study found that attributes such as dynamic
leadership, positive and ethical corporate culture, customer centric
orientation, empowering employees helped Volvo to achieve competitive advantage
over its competitor. This study also found that practicing Six Sigma,
maintaining quality and ISO standards, and establishing quality council have a
positive role in attaining Volvo’s operational excellences and in
achieving well-functioning society. Volvo’s strategy of winning competitive
advantage is an example which should be followed by others to achieve
competitive advantage in order to be able to sustain in today’s highly
competitive market and keeping pace with rapid changes.