Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Meridith K. Wentz
Abstract
Manufacturing leaders who produce airbags need to immediately identify product defects before fulfilling customer orders to enhance customer safety and satisfaction as well as to decrease costs. Grounded in stewardship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders of organizations fabricating parts use for identifying defects in products before fulfilling customers’ orders from within the manufacturing industry. The participants were 10 manufacturing leaders from the southeast region of Virginia. Data were gathered from semistructured interviews and document review. Using Yin’s 5-step approach, the themes that emerged were (a) communication and relationship with outsourced entities, (b) monitoring and tracking the quality system for product defects, (c) communication and relationship with customer service for defective products, and (d) communication and continuous improvement regarding customer’s product defects. A key recommendation from this study is that manufacturing leaders can use the results to identify appropriate strategic planning methods and implement additional effective safety measures. The implications for positive social change can lead to safer vehicles on the highways, which can save lives and reduce recalls that result in financial losses that can affect the stability of jobs in the manufacturing industry.
Recommended Citation
Ballen, Kecia Yvonne, "Strategies for Minimizing Defects in Outsourced Products" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13970.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13970
