The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-23
QUALITY FIRST" IS
STUDEBAKER SLOGAN
Heading of Engineering and Pfoduc-
tion Declares Quality Must Be
Apparel
(RY N. Z. MoLLERlNel


insists upon the highest quality OF ma
terial and workmanship. 1t precludes
the making OF substitutions to lower
costs. We are proud Of the fact that
each reduction we have ever made in
the price OF our cars has been due to
economies effected in manufacturing
and purchasing, not to the economy
OF using any grade OF material but the
best for the particular purpose in
tended.
The result Of all this has reflected
in the performance OF our cars and
the satisfaction they have given own
ers, which in turn has resulted in their
great popularity.
In my position as head of the engi-
neering and manufacturing divisions
of this institution. It IL naturally a
course OF pleasure to me to hear peo-
pie say that 30 much OF the credit for
our success during the past year is
due to the quality Of our cars. 1t
makes me feel that our inslstence
upon quality throughout has been
worth while and has brought it's just
reward. And now that EtudebakeF
shower a greater percentage OF in
crease in sales during 1891 than any
other manufacturer. and reached the
position as the worlds greatest build
ers Of six-cylinder cars, I feel more
keenly than ever the obligation that
Is ours OF continuing the high STAN
dards Of quality which we have estab-
lished. The public has come to ex-
pect much from our product, and our
determination is to allow no deviation
from the policy of quality first"
don't mind admitting that If our
standards were less rigid than they
are. the temptation would have been
great to let down the bars at times.
A manufacturer has SO many oppor-
tunities to do this. SO much OF a car
Is more or less hidden. But we prefer
to retain the confidence Of owners and
prospective purchasers by employing
only the best steels, wood leather. up
holstery. tires and accessories. Never
IN order that we might lower the re-
tail prices OF our cars. When we
lower prices we compensate for the
difference in profit by discovering new
manufacturing economies. Some max
ers, I'm sorry to say. take the short
cut and arrive at lower costs OF pro-
ouCbAOA ny AlSTcly IL4VWlAS Jul 8OOu
materials for inferior. For instance, a
maker can easily save considerable
money in the costs Of producing his
car by purchasing cheap. unknown
batteries, using imitation leather or
leather that any self-respecting bovine
would be ashamed to wear by making
his tops OF a material that looks good
on the salesroom floor but soon fades
and fiutters. Studebaker has been one
OF the worlds great institutions too
long, however, to sell its birthright for
mess of pottage.
There IS nothing mysterious about
the quality OF Studebaker automobiles.
It, Is due, in the first place, to the
specifying OF the finest materials, the
employment of the highest type of
skill, and the use OF the most modern
machinery In our great plants. In the
second place, this quality comes from
our policy Of constant checking and
re-checldng along every stage from
the time we buy materials until the
finished car of which they are a part
Is placed in the hands OF the owners.
Not only do we specify the best ma
terials, but we test them ourselves be-
fore they are accepted or rejected as
the case may be- And then, through
out the many processes OF manufac-
tlre the various parts and units are
subjected to many inspections to make
sure that they measure up exactly to
standard. For instance, 1,120 mechan-
zeal operations require accuracy to the
one thousandth part Of an inch, and
$50 operations to the on-hah thou
sandth part of an inch. More than
$50 inspectors are employed to make |
sure that the standards are lived up
to. Nearly $500 inspections take place
In the StudebaSer plants before cars
are permitted to go to a customer.
Such methods are practical only for
a large manufacturer building for
They are IN line with
our quality first" policy.
Although the first essential Of a
successful automobile 10 correct de-
sign, the most skiilful work an engi-
neer can do Is no assurance OF how
well q car can perform. It is true, .
Of course, that high quality materials
and careful workmanship win not save
q product OF poor design, but it is
equally true that lower grade OF
materials and workmanship can ruin
the results of the finest efforts OF the
engineer,
equality first" with eternal vigil
lance to make sure that this ideal is
out, is the best assurance OF +
a successful product. Now, 1t is un-
doubtedly true that many automobiles
are bought in the course Of year be-
cause of certain trivial features-cer-
tain 'glm cracks"-tfIat catch the eye
or strike the fancy. But just let those
cars "fall down" on performance, and
the public quickly switches away from
them. It is the care that Is superior
In its reliability, economy and all
round performance that wins the con-
adence Of owners, their endorsement
among their friends and, in short real