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by Jeff Moad, MA Editorial Staff   | Abstract: | SigmaQuest's system allows manufacturers to track the quality of components as they come off assembly and test lines. Knowing where product defects originate can help a company optimize its production operations. |
Most manufacturers know one thing about warranty payments and product returns: They cost a whole lot of money. A recent report by Aberdeen Group, in fact, estimated that warranty claims cost U.S. companies $2 billion per month. What most manufacturers are less sure of, however, is what causes the product defects that lead to warranty claims and product returns -- and what they can do to fix those quality problems quickly. The same Aberdeen study found that the biggest warranty-related challenge facing manufacturers is identifying the root causes of product failures. SigmaQuest Inc., a small, four-year-old software and service provider, is focused squarely on helping manufacturers clear up the mysteries surrounding product quality problems that can lead to costly warranty claims and even product recalls. The company so far has attracted 30 customers across 90 plants who have either licensed SigmaQuest's software or plugged into the on-demand version of its product. [Click to continue] |