APPROACHES TO QUALITY: THE MANUFACTURER'S VIEWS

Optare Ltd's approach to quality through new buses is presented. The following questions are addressed: (1) How does investment enhance the overall quality image? and (2) How will future bus designs improve the image further? Optare has consciously sold its vehicles as 'quality products', with high quality design, manufacture, and, especially, appearance. It has attempted to make buses cleaner, quieter, and with a more 'car-like' travel experience. More than most manufacturers, it has influenced the external and internal design of large and small buses. It has developed a complete service from initial financing, through delivery, to first-class after-sales service. Compared with ten years ago, modern buses (1) have very much better appearance; (2) have a greater range of sizes and specifications; (3) are easier to use; (4) are more reliable; and (5) perform better on the road. Because there are not enough new buses, the bus replacement programme should be accelerated; it would reduce buses' already relatively small contribution to environmental pollution from transport. More attention should be given to the process of the bus journey as a whole, and this will require improvements by bus operators as well as manufacturers. For the covering abstract see IRRD 874487.

• Corporate Authors:

  TAS PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS LTD

  BRITANNIC HOUSE
  1A CHAPEL STREET, PRESTON  United Kingdom  PR1 8BU
• Authors:
  • Richardson, R
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 66-71
• Serial:
  • THE BUS IN A NEW ERA. TURNING THE TIDE. CONFERENCE PAPERS, LEEDS, MARCH 1995
  • Publisher: TAS PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS LTD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Aesthetics; Air pollution; Buses; Conferences; Design; Financing; Manufactures; Policy; Public transit; Quality control; Specifications; Travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quality
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 9107: Aesthetics; 2452: Air pollution; 1272: Bus; 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 244: Financing; 698: Journey; 3647: Manufacture; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 9063: Quality; 177: Specifications; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714453
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 27 1995 12:00AM