Quality Control from concept to service
Yamaha takes the concept of “quality control” way beyond simply
checking finished products for defects. In fact, Yamaha maintains dedi-
cated staff and certified world-class facilities that are devoted solely
to quality control, ensuring that all products are designed, developed,
manufactured, shipped, and serviced with maximum quality main-
tained throughout the entire process. The Yamaha quality control proc-
ess can be broadly divided into 6 phases that begin at a guitar’s con-
ception and continue for long after it is sold and in the player’s hands.
1: Virtual Review – Creating Quality on Paper
2: Initial Prototype – Ideas Become Reality
3: Pre-production Prototype – Refining the Process
4: Production – Non-stop Quality Control
5: Spot Checks and Feedback from the Field –Continued Vigilance
6: In the Player’s Hands – Lasting Quality
YASB is located at the heart of the LA music scene. Most
artists are keenly aware of their own needs as well as those
of other musicians around them, and are usually happy to
evaluate prototypes and share ideas and opinions on how
instruments can be improved whenever the opportunity
arises. Thus the quality of Yamaha guitars is not only de-
pendent on the designers, craftsmen, and support staff at
Yamaha’s guitar divisions and factories, but also to a large
degree on the players who use them.
Yamaha’s goal is to create guitars that ideally meet the real world needs of professional and amateur musi-
cians who depend on their instruments for their livelihood, art, and enjoyment. Acquiring feedback directly
from and cooperating with players in the development of designs and features is the most meaningful, effective
way to refine the instruments we produce. With that understanding, Yamaha places great emphasis on commu-
nicating with players and providing opportunities for them to evaluate instruments and suggest improvements.
YASB (Yamaha Artist Services, Burbank)
Since quality cannot be fully assured on the basis of theory alone, it
becomes necessary to subject actual instruments and parts to “controlled
abuse” that tests their actual performance, stability, and reliability to
extremes. Yamaha maintains a number of facilities dedicated to physi-
cal testing and quality control – including the world-class Yamaha Quali-
ty Support Center that houses some of the most advanced and sensitive
testing facilities for electronic devices available anywhere, plus some
tortuous durability tests that are almost shocking in their severity.
Severe Quality Testing
The ultimate goal of Yamaha quality control is total customer satisfaction.
That not only means delivering guitars that are stable and reliable,
but also instruments that fulfill the player’s musical needs and are
capable of growing and improving along with the player. And when a
problem occurs, responsive and effective support becomes an essen-
tial element of the quality equation as well. Easier said than done.
Like the products themselves, quality management must continually
evolve to keep pace with continuously changing markets, user needs,
and technology. Yamaha is right at the leading edge.
The Ultimate Goal
Yamaha Essential Knowledge
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Yamaha Essential Knowledge
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