Business & Society Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management Eighth Edition

Learning Outcomes • Describe and discuss the two major product issues: quality and safety. • Explain the role and functions of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. • Enumerate and discuss the reasons for concern about product liability, and differentiate strict liability, absolute liability, and market share liability. • Outline business’s responses to consumer stakeholders, including customer service, total quality management (TQM programs), and Six Sigma. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Chapter Outline • Two Central Issues: Quality and Safety • Consumer Product Safety Commission • Food and Drug Administration • Business’s Response to Consumer Stakeholders • Total Quality Management Programs • Six Sigma Strategy and Process • Summary • Key Terms • Discussion Questions © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Two Central Issues Quality Productquality means different things to different people. Servicequality usually means that the service was performed as expected and on time. Interest is driven by an increase in family income and intense global competition. Safety Nearly all consumer products or services entail some small degree of risk. Interest about safety is driven by the public’s concern with safety and risk-free products– and business’ responsibility to address this concern. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Product Liability Reasons for the concern The sheer number of cases where products resulted in injury, illness, or death and the amount of the financial award. We have become an increasingly litigious society. Rise in the doctrine of strict liability. Anyone in the value chain of a product is liable for harm caused to the user if the product is unreasonably dangerous because of a defective condition. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Extensions of the Strict Liability Rule Expansion of the strict liability rule is at the heart of the explosion of litigation in the U.S. Absolute liability Is more demanding that strict liability. Market share liability Evolved from delayed manifestation cases where delayed reactions to products appear years after exposure. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Consumer Product Safety Commission An independent regulatory agency that was created by the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972. Develops voluntary safety standards with industry Issues and enforces mandatory standards Bans consumer products if no feasible standard would protect the public Obtains the recall of products or arranges repair Conducts research on potential product hazards Informs and educates consumers through media, government and private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Problems Facing the CPSC Having adequate resources to do the job Having sufficient staff to address current needs Being forced to shift priorities New challenges from a changing world © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration Grew out of experiments with food safety by Harvey W. Wiley in the late 1800s. The FDA resides within the Health and Human Services Department. Engages in three categories of activity Analysis Surveillance Correction © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

What does the FDA Do? The FDA is responsible for Assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, the U.S. food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and products that give off radiation. Regulating tobacco products. Advancing the public health by helping to speed product innovations. Helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Customer Service Programs Building life-long devotion among customers takes serious commitment and hard work. Companies address customer service through Money-back guarantees Warranties Offices of consumer affairs Top management must be committed to quality customer service. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Total Quality Management TQM All business functions are blended into an integrated philosophy built around quality, teamwork, productivity, and customer understanding and satisfaction. The customer is the final judge of quality. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Total Quality Management (continued) The foundation upon which all else is built TQM emphasizes eight key elements Ethics Integrity Trust Training Teamwork Leadership Recognition Communication © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Define qualityin terms ofcustomer expectations Convert customer expectations to standards and specifications Realign the organization to ensure quality is achieved Business’ Response to Consumers © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Six Sigma Strategy and Process Six Sigma A general heading under which is grouped a number of strategies, methodologies, and techniques Aims to improve quality and reduce costs. It stresses the importance of customers. Six Sigma level of operation is 3.4 defects per million. Most companies have 6,000 defects per million. © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Key Terms • Absolute liability • Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008 • Consumer Product Safety Commission • Consumer stakeholder satisfaction model • Contractual theory • Delayed manifestation cases • Due care theory • Food and Drug Administration • Market share liability • Product liability reform • Six Sigma • Social costs view • Strict liability • Tort reform • Total Quality Management © 2012 South-Western, a part of Cengage Learning

Business & Society Ethics, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Management Eighth Edition