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Perceived
quality is what consumers sense on their initial contact with a vehicle,
both from the outside - the overall shape, the color, the front end, the
bumpers - and on the inside: the look of the instrument panel, the finish
of a seat, the overall feel of the interior. This
positive first impression - the moment you "perceive the quality" of a
vehicle with all your senses - is one of the main factors triggering the
decision to purchase a vehicle.
It starts when you look at the vehicle from
the outside and continues as you open the door for the first time and
take in the interior. And your initial positive perception must last throughout
your first drive and subsequent use of the vehicle: you must remain convinced
that your initial choice was the right one.
A global approach
Faurecia adopts a global approach to perceived
quality, with transversal experts focusing on the vehicle interior as
a whole before examining its separate components. In-depth research is
carried out on both interior and exterior modules, integrating the front
end and bumper, which play an integral role in defining a vehicle’s style.
Appearance, harmony, choice of materials and
ergonomics are among
the most important ingredients. So too is "fit and finish",
which provide flawless continuity between parts and surfaces, and is immediately
appealing to vehicle users. Faurecia contributes to the perceived
quality of the vehicle exterior through the mEasy
concept, which ensures optimal fit and finish on the front of the vehicle.
Ergonomics
Inside the vehicle, Faurecia enhances perceived
quality through the quality of the material and stitching on its seat
covers, and through a number of solutions for optimizing the interior
space and improving freedom of movement, accessibility and visibility.
One current area of innovation is the use of ambient light to emphasize
functions or areas within the vehicle (electric seating controls, floor
areas, map pocket, etc.), without jeopardizing driver concentration.
Innovative materials, innovative processes
Colors, forms, materials and finishes are
also major avenues of research in order to find new textiles and finishes,
but also new processes that achieve the same results in a more cost-effective
manner. Current Faurecia solutions include laser molding on the material,
in-mold graining on skins, new translucent
materials and PU
cast skin with its special tactile qualities and range of combinations
and finishes. Faurecia now implements
a Perceived Quality process based on a sensory analysis procedure, in
which subjective impressions of touch, sight, hearing and smell are collected,
measured objectively and stored in a database. Perceived quality benchmarks
can then be set and guidelines established for new projects. The process
is now systematically deployed on all Faurecia programs.
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See
all Faurecia's Innovations
Access to the video:
Much more than
common sense
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