Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/08

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Subject: Re: [Leica] QC and the Bosses
From: John Collier <jbcollier@home.com>
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 09:06:17 -0700

I cannot comment on the accuracy of your figures but extrapolating from
them:

1% of 3% gives us a fault rate of 3 units for every 10,000 units produced.

I am sure that Leica, nor anyone else, achieves this. And I am equally sure
that if they did, it would be cause for another commemorative camera. :-)

I am of the opinion, perhaps false, that quality control has never been
better. I have read many actual stories from the good old days and the fault
rate was much higher back then. One Leica-user reported receiving his M3
camera with no rangefinder arm! He had to wait for the dealer to order one
in and install and calibrate it at the store. I bet that camera could not
focus a 75/1.4!

John Collier

These are the glory days of the M camera, and, it keeps getting better!
50/1, 75/1.4, 35/1.4 Asph, 90/2.8M, 21/2.8 Asph, 90/2 AA, 28/2 Asph, three
different viewfinder magnifications....what next! I can hardly wait.



> From: "Frank Filippone" <red735i@earthlink.net>
> 
> I don't argue with John's mantra to test everything.  It is sound advice.
> However the main disappointment is the number of wacked out items the
> members of the LUG are getting right out of the new box.
> 
> One of the interesting items that came from my study of the serial numbers
> of the M6HM was that as a group, the LUG represents about 3% of all Leica
> purchasers.  ( about 75-100 cameras were reported in about the first 6
> months against a total production of 3000-odd).  This gives us a good
> statistical basis to determine trends.
> 
> If we are seeing a "return rate" of even 1% on our LUG equipment, then we
> have been failed by the manufacturer.  Can you imagine your reaction to
> getting a new car whose engine does not function?  How about a new
> refrigerator that keeps food at a nice warm 54 degrees F?  A new house whose
> hot and cold taps are randomly different ( left and right ) throughout the
> house?
> What would you do?  You would raise Cain...
> 
> I have been stating that the bosses of Leica do not know about the high
> out-of-the-box return rate.  We need to start a campaign to tell them about
> their failures and ask them what they are doing to correct this.....
> 
> How do we reach into Leica's top management?
> 
> Frank Filippone
> red735i@earthlink.net
>