Quality issues in lean production implementation: a case study of a Frenchautomotive supplier

Among the major changes related to the emergence of lean production that th e European automotive component sector has undergone over the last 5 years, new approaches to quality management is one of the most significant. Howev er, there is very little literature, in terms of case studies Or examples, that focuses on the daily struggle in companies of transforming these strat egies into working practice. The research reported in this paper illustrate s, by means of a case study, how a French automotive supplier has confronte d the challenge and adopted quality management-related concepts of lean pro duction in its operation. Lean quality management is analysed in six domain s: top management support-leadership policy, customer relationships, produc t design process, process flow management, continuous improvement and marke t outcomes. It is concluded that if quality is managed in an integrated way where management support and customer relationships condition the operatio ns context, quality management can become a resource enabling suppliers to create distinctive competitive advantage and thus achieve positive market o utcomes.