Jaguar has achieved a remarkable quadruple success in the latest J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study released today in the U.S.
- Improved to second its position overall in the survey
- The highest-ranked European nameplate
- The Gold Plant Quality Award in Europe for Halewood
- Massive improvement for the Jaguar X-TYPE
This major achievement for Jaguar was led by its best performing model, the X-TYPE saloon, which improved 37 points in the study, a 35 % leap over last year’s results. The J.D. Power Study ranks new vehicle quality after 90 days in the hands of customers.
In addition, Jaguar’s Halewood plant, where the X-TYPE is manufactured, received J.D. Power’s Gold Award for European plant performance. This state of the art facility - once Ford Motor Company’s lowest rated plant in the world - is now a centre of excellence for lean manufacturing, a discipline that focuses on elimination of waste, while driving high quality, continuous improvement.
“Jaguar has achieved the Number Two ranking in the industry out of 36 brands and is once again the highest ranked European nameplate in the Initial Quality Study,” said Bibiana Boerio, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars.
“Coupled with the success of X-TYPE and our Halewood Plant in the J.D. Power Survey, this a terrific testament to the efforts of the whole Jaguar team. Improving our quality has been a passion for everyone at Jaguar and we are once again delighted with these outstanding results. I like to think that this is the voice of real customers telling us about the quality of their Jaguar vehicles.”
The Jaguar X-TYPE went on sale in 2001 and continues to introduce the Jaguar brand to new consumers. The X-TYPE, the only compact luxury saloon to offer all-wheel drive as standard equipment, combines a fresh performance spirit with the luxury, craftsmanship and refinement for which Jaguar is renowned.
From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar has grown to become one of the world’s premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company’s vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates three manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motor sport.
Headquartered in Westlake Village, CA, J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the World Wide Web at www.jdpower.com.
Jaguar Cars, Halewood
Jaguar’s Halewood Plant manufactures the luxury Jaguar X-TYPE and employs 2400 people. It is recognised throughout the industry as a centre of excellence for Lean Manufacturing and the plant has won several awards for its best practice production and logistics processes.
In 2000, a significant investment was made in Halewood to transform the plant from a mass-production assembly plant for the Ford Escort to a world class manufacturing facility for the Jaguar X-TYPE. It meant that for the first time Jaguar would have a plant that housed all four stages of the production process under one roof - totally new body construction and final assembly facilities, along with refurbished press and paint shops.
The transformation of the manufacturing facility was complemented by a culture change strategy, which ensured Halewood’s people and processes were ready to build a luxury vehicle. Jaguar invested in over a million hours of training in the Halewood workforce.
Jaguar Halewood is ideally placed for efficient in-bound and out-bound logistics, and enjoys a close working relationship with X-TYPE’s major suppliers. The Boulevard Industry Park was developed in close partnership with the North West Development Agency and houses supplier companies including Conix (front and rear bumpers), Lear (seats), and Visteon (instrument panel and centre console). The park is directly adjacent to the Jaguar plant facilitating a true ‘just-in-time’ system of production. A dedicated railhead transports over 90% of finished export vehicles from the plant, increasing efficiency and strengthening Jaguar’s excellent environmental record.
A brand new ‘Lean Learning Academy’ was established at the plant in 2002 and this year the centre will train over 150 managers from Premier Automotive Group companies across Europe, in up-to-the-minute lean management skills. For the past three years the plant has received the highest score in a worldwide process audit of all Ford owned plants, setting a global benchmark for the company.
The Halewood plant has a wide-ranging corporate citizenship programme and takes its role in the community seriously. Jaguar has become a local landmark in Liverpool and the company supported the city’s successful 2008 European Capital of Culture campaign. The plant’s Jaguar Education Business Centre has received two Business in the Community ‘Awards for Excellence.’
2004 was an exciting year for the plant - following on from initial worldwide success of the Jaguar X-TYPE, Halewood now produces diesel and estate models. Later this year the new high performance X-TYPE 2.2 Litre Diesel will be launched and in 2006 the plant will commence production of a Land Rover vehicle.
Fast Facts:
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Produces the Jaguar X-TYPE
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Exports to over 60 world markets.
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Employs 2,400 people.
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Significant investment in facilities to create a world-class manufacturing facility
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Successful culture change programme implemented including one million hours of training.
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Supplier park established creating 500 new jobs.
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Premier Automotive Group (PAG) Lean Learning Academy based at Halewood - uses Halewood’s best practice manufacturing processes to train managers in lean management skills.
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