Brexit and quality

During the 1970s, the GATT meetings in Brazil were about ISO9000 and preventing quality issues becoming barriers to trade. The ISO9000 definition of quality is 'fit for purpose'. That means that both a 60's Mini and a Rolls-Royce are quality products. The difference which does not get a mention is 'attention to detail'. In countries such as the UK, Australia, Germany and America, we have well educated, highly paid workers. The only way that workforce can be justified is by moving up-market when we compete globally. A lot of Chinese manufactured goods are initially 'fit for purpose', then you throw them away and buy a replacement. In Australia we do ourselves in by buying on price rather than quality. I blame our education system for that
With motorcycles, some of the big failures are in the areas of metallurgy and metal finishing. A friend of mine was working in a local motorcycle shop. He used to be driven mad by people asking for help to fix Chinese pit bikes. With the older British bikes, at least the nuts were cadmium plated, NOT zinc.

China and India not quality, in the last 5 years or so the quality has moved up a knotch. Spot the problem, this increase in quality costs them narrowing the margins they have.
Recently had a quote from a pestering Indian salesman selling fork top nuts, they were dearer ex-works than I get them for in the UK.
The Chinese also use UK manufacturing as well these days.

Australia can only compete globally on the basis of quality. But most people buy on price. But if the truth be said- in the past, many Australian products have also been rubbish. We should neither accept it nor sell it.

You get what you pay for, but a lot of Aussie companies buy from China cheaply then sell for tripple the price (over priced), when I brought my milling machine I was looking for a adjustable cutter and my local engineering supply shop had it for $169 so I looked on line and got the same cutter from Hong Kong for $49 with free post and delivered with in 5 days to my front door, so it pays to shop around.

Ashley

On Chinese quality. Some of you might remember how Japanese cars was in the fifties. Datsun had to change name to be able to sell their cars when quality had improved somewhat. In the seventies they killed the British motorcycle industry with reliable powerful bikes. Nowadays no one can complain on Japanese quality.
China seems to have improved quality quite much in recent years. But you still have the option to buy low priced crap or slightly more costly decent items. Recently bought a set of gauge blocks in workshop quality at a fraction of the price of a Mitotoyo set. But the 2 ignition switches I bought for a BSA didn't work so I had to buy a quality one at a local shop at triple price. The hard working Chinese articulated mini wheel loader got a hole in the radiator after 15 years. A new radiator was 2/3 price of what a repair would cost. Except for an electric fuel pump it has never failed.

It is interesting, the fact that this thread begins with regulation and law but it meanders it’s way to price and consumer judgments

Madnorton said:

China and India not quality, in the last 5 years or so the quality has moved up a knotch. Spot the problem, this increase in quality costs them narrowing the margins they have.
Recently had a quote from a pestering Indian salesman selling fork top nuts, they were dearer ex-works than I get them for in the UK.
The Chinese also use UK manufacturing as well these days.

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It's intresting to note that the Royal Enfield and other items were built in Taiwan and India were made on old English built machines that were imported into those countries. . . . .

acotrel said:

With the older British bikes, at least the nuts were cadmium plated, NOT zinc.

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Please note that cadmium plating is oulawed in most of the developed world for health and safety and environmental reasons.
Only for purposes where no alternative is available cad plating is still legally allowed.