Nissan traces paint flaws to workers jewelry

[caltitan]

Someone touched on this earlier but I thought I would post the whole news story.

Nissan Blames Jewelry on Assembly Line
Fri Aug 13, 2:13 PM ET
By LYNDA EDWARDS, Associated Press Writer

JACKSON, Miss. - Blame it on the jewels. Puzzled Nissan Motor Co. engineers inspecting the company's $1.4 billion Mississippi plant traced vehicle paint flaws and scratches to the watches, wedding rings, belt buckles and bracelets that assembly line workers were wearing on the job.

In June, Nissan dispatched 200 mechanical, structural, electrical, chemical and materials engineers from its Tokyo headquarters after a J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study published consumer complaints about Nissan vehicles manufactured in the United States. The study, published annually, questioned 51,000 consumers who bought or leased 2004-model trucks and cars.

Consumer gripes about vehicles made at the Canton, Miss. factory included wind noise, vibrating brake pedals and paint blemishes.

The plant, which opened in May 2003, produces the Altima sedan, the Quest minivan, the Armada sport utility vehicle and the Titan truck for Nissan and the QX56 SUV for Infiniti. Nissan also makes Altimas at a Smyrna, Tenn., plant.

"The engineers walked the Canton assembly line, watched workers getting in and out of cars, studied their movements," Nissan spokesman Tom Groom said. "Wet paint can be mutilated very easily so the engineers walked the whole assembly line then focused on the area where the paint is still wet."

That's when the engineers spotted jewelry inflicting scratches and paint smears.

He said workers have been ordered to remove their all jewelry and metal accessories before taking their places on the assembly line.

SOURCE:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ry_scratches_1

[Gig'em]

Wow, it took 200 Japanese engineers to figure that out? Should I be relieved they fixed it or dissapointed in the American Quality Control?

[lcbrownz]

Originally Posted by Gig'em

Wow, it took 200 Japanese engineers to figure that out? Should I be relieved they fixed it or dissapointed in the American Quality Control?

According to what I have read, those 200 engineers have recommended 40 major revisions to the manufacturing process in all of the product lines in Canton.

[campsmoke]

That explains the super fine scratch on my windsheild, looks as though a diamond scratched it for about one inch. Dealer said I should have noticed it before I took delivery. So now I have to live with it! Oh well, truck is great anyway!

Campsmoke

[Gig'em]

I realize the engineers caught more QC issues, but this one seems like a no brainer.

My proposal for the a new sign in the employee lounge:

Please remove the Bling,
It might cause a ding.

[pciley]

.....

[jaysonstuart]

Guess they missed the big spot on the back of my cab that just wasn't painted! Don't think a watch or ring caused that one tho....

[pciley]

Maybe somebody's BIG BALLER bling bling 4" diamater "[SIZE=7]$[/SIZE]" necklace was covering it