Defective Products Could Lead To Serious Injuries
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Defective Products Could Lead to Serious Injuries
1. The most appropriate method to present the issue of defective products to the CEO, directors and managers, is via word of mouth or appropriate presentation techniques. Defective products form a large fraction of the goods market and are potentially harmful to consumers. Defective products tend to cause injuries, which are sometimes fatal. This results in the need for product liability claims (Cantor, 2011). The term refers to the situation where a producer or retailer is held responsible for issuing a defective commodity to a consumer. The manufacturer, wholesaler and the retailer are among the possible liable parties. The law requires that all products meet the set standards and rules of quality to safeguard the well-being of the consumer. Providing information to the business owners before distribution or retailing is vital in order to ensure that the defective goods are repaired or recalled for modifications.
2. Customers should be made aware of the impending risks of defective goods but reassured of necessary repairs and adjustments (Cantor, 2011). This may be met by a lot of criticism from the company’s authority since an awareness of defective products could reduce the company’s sales. The company can respond to customer concerns by warning them of the dangers of using a product inappropriately so that they will make informed decisions regarding their use. The company should also establish policies that enable compensation of consumers who have been injured by defective products or a refund strategy when goods are not satisfactory (Cantor, 2011). The law defends consumers who wish to be compensated for damages. Various laws require that goods purchased be of satisfactory quality, with all aspects such as fitness of purpose, safety, durability and appearance, taken into account. A company should issue its consumers with safety alerts and recall notices. This can be done through direct notification, public notification and media coverage. In direct notification, the manufacturer informs all the parties in the distribution chain of the recall. This information is aimed at halting the sale of the product. Public notification involves a company’s public recall of defective product and issuance of safety alerts. Media coverage takes place when the recall of the product affects a large portion of the population. The media in this case are used as the channels of communication. Media channels include newspapers, websites or television.
3. Various internal actions can be put into effect to ensure that product defects are avoided in the future. First, the company’s product inspection should be intensified before dispatch to ensure that they are defect free. This can be done by experts and supervisors who conduct pilot programs or tests to determine the usability and effectiveness of a product. Research and development programs also play a major role in discovering faults, in production and assembling. High standards of professionalism should be upheld such as through training and hiring of skilled workers. These factors ensure that the goods produced are made to perfection. High standards at the work place should also be maintained through expression of the principles of ethical values. These standards should be maintained through continuous consultation and education. Social marketing is also an important tool in aiding the business community to understand the importance of quality control.
Product capability studies should be conducted, as they are resourceful in determining the functionality of a product. These studies highlight the areas that need adjustment in production and offer recommendations on the same. Constant evaluation of company equipment is essential to ensure that they are fixed to reduce defects on goods. Acceptance sampling is also an efficient technique that ensures goods are not damaged during inspection or assessment (Schilling & Neubauer, 2009). The method also allows business owners to increase the effectiveness of production (Schilling & Neubauer, 2009). Preventing future problems in production and reducing defects can only be realized through the concerted efforts of the company’s management and workforce.
4. It is also important that a strong work and business ethic permeates the company. In order to do this, various factors need to be put into place. The company needs to define its code of conduct and organize regular ethics programs. The company’s code of conduct must be tailored according to the organization’s culture. A company’s code of conduct addresses sensitive activities in the organization that are subject to severe scrutiny. These codes should also be realistic to ensure that all the employees abide by them (Gavai, 2010). Ethics programs are meant to facilitate compliance efficiency within the organization. Compliance standards should be put in place, be well communicated, and consistently enforced to deter crime. Ethics programs should be coupled with compliance programs, as both will guarantee that workers do not only follow the set standards of rules but also assign emphasis on moral responsibility and values (Gavai, 2010). In order to make certain that the company’s code of conduct is adhered to, the tone must be set from the top. Ethical standards need to be initiated, encouraged, supported and practiced by top management (Johnson & Ridley, 2010). In addition, an organization’s code of conduct can only be effective if it is professionally explained and communicated. With the advent of modern technology, proper communication methods can be put in place to provide a stream of information even after the preliminary awareness campaign.
References
Cantor, R. A. (2011). Product liability. Chicago, IL: American Bar Association.
Gavai, A. K. (2010). Business ethics. Mumbai, India: Himalaya Pub. House.
Johnson, W. B., & Ridley, C. R. (2008). The elements of ethics: For professionals. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Schilling, E. G., & Neubauer, D. V. (2009). Acceptance sampling in quality control. Boca Raton: CRC Press.