TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein

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Filed under: Safety

Battered yet again by a series of embarrassing recalls, accusations of a cover-up and its collapse in a widely-watched quality survey, Toyota is taking an unusual step it hopes will bring things back under control.



The Japanese automaker has long prided itself on having arguably the quickest product development system in the industry, something that it claims can result in vehicles that are more in tune with fast-shifting consumer tastes. But the downside is that this approach - which can bring a car to market in barely a year - may also be resulting in cut corners when it comes to quality.



Some warn the focus on speed has created a sort of see-no/hear-no/speak-no-evil climate in which program managers are under pressure to deliver on time, no matter what, and subordinates fear the wrath of God if they report a problem that could cause a delay.



Now, says Toyota, it is stretching out its development cycle by an extra four weeks to make more quality checks. Whether it will encourage employees to take risks by reporting problems is another matter. If they can't feel safe revealing, say, a faulty engine valve spring, what use is the new policy?

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Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

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TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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