Alfa GT - Alfatex quality control problems?

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Grahame - 10 Aug 2004 23:03 GMT

Hi All,

I went to my local showroom to order a new GT in Sterling Gret metallic with
the Light Grey Alfatex and black/grey dash (UK colour code 127).

Turns out that although this option is in the brochures, Alfa are no longer
offering this colour combination as an option.

As an alternative, I said I would consider Stromboli Grey with the 127
interior, or Sterling Grey with the 160 interior (light grey alfatex with
grey/grey dashboard).

Now the dealer informs me all interior colour choices with the light grey
alfatex are currently unavailable from the factory because of "quality
control issues"!

Seems rather odd - has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks - Grahame.

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Ex Alfa Adam - 11 Aug 2004 10:22 GMT

> Now the dealer informs me all interior colour choices with the light grey
> alfatex are currently unavailable from the factory because of "quality
> control issues"!

I haven't experienced this and would be rather surprised - I have worked for
2 major suppliers of automotive seating and in the position of the supplier,
you supply to a fixed price contract, when the customer (eg Alfa, or in my
case Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Rover, BMW etc) wants the seating. In one of my
contracts the timing between the order arriving at the printer in the plant,
and the complete seating set leaving to go to Toyota was 110 minutes.

Suppliers HAVE to deliver the goods - no choice - if the fabric isn't any
good it is their problem. Maybe someone has boobed big-time and the fabric
supplier has been unable to supply - if so there will be so much activity
going on at the seating supplier that no-one will want to be involved!

Or we can look for problems elsewhere (purchasing, scheduling, etc......)

Can someone in Italy find out what the problem really is?

Adam H

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Alfistagj - 11 Aug 2004 15:38 GMT

> Suppliers HAVE to deliver the goods - no choice - if the fabric isn't any
> good it is their problem. Maybe someone has boobed big-time and the fabric
> supplier has been unable to supply - if so there will be so much activity
> going on at the seating supplier that no-one will want to be involved!
>
> Or we can look for problems elsewhere (purchasing, scheduling, etc......)

Base of the problem will be the sales succes, double what they expected.
Alfa, like any other party, has contract with sub-suppliers for just in time
delivery for a certian quantity per day/week/monht/year
Alfa and their sub-suppliers are not able to scale up 100% in a short
period.
As far as I am informed, they are using the holiday month of August to
re-plan production from less selling models to the GT; they hope to get this
100% extra on the GT

Then they will have to decide what to do with those contracts they already
have for delivery in 2005
Will they use the extra capacity to pull delivery forward or will they use
it to sell extra cars to new customers and leave the old ones with the long
delivery!?
The old ones cannot pull out of their contract, so my guess is they will use
it for new orders!

Signature

Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

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Alfistagj - 11 Aug 2004 15:31 GMT

My guess is that they are trying to find an excuse.
They are trying to sell a certain spec that they have already on order (or
on stock)
Alfa only has one general problem and that is that sales are double what
they expected.
I ordered mine (2.0JTS / Rosso Siena / Nature leather / black dash) end May,
delivery end December!!

Signature

Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Alfa red 156 SW 1.8 Madeno tuned (2000)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

> Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks - Grahame.

Reply to this Message

Grahame - 11 Aug 2004 22:05 GMT

Hi All,

Thanks for the comments, it's intersting to hear your views. The dealership
is going to ring me on Friday with an update on the availability, so I'll
post the news here and let you all know what the story is.

Thanks,

Grahame.

> My guess is that they are trying to find an excuse.
> They are trying to sell a certain spec that they have already on order (or
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> >
> > Thanks - Grahame.

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Grahame - 13 Aug 2004 20:28 GMT

> Hi All,
>
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> > >
> > > Thanks - Grahame.

Well, its official. We're back in the days on Henry Ford - you can have any
colour you like as long as it's black!
It seems following the "quality control" issues with the grey Alfatex, Alfa
are currently only accepting orders for Alfatex interiors in black.
Apparently this is under review and they "may" be able to offer grey Alfatex
again from late next week (but that's what they said last week!)
Watch this space...
Grahame.

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Neuropean - 12 Aug 2004 08:35 GMT

=>My guess is that they are trying to find an excuse.
=>They are trying to sell a certain spec that they have already on
order (or
=>on stock)
=>Alfa only has one general problem and that is that sales are double
what
=>they expected.
=>I ordered mine (2.0JTS / Rosso Siena / Nature leather / black dash)
end May,
=>delivery end December!!

Nope,
they are indeed reviewing tand changing the options offered, compared
to what announced at the model's launch. The GT colour combination
offer has been a bit of a mess. The luxury leather interior package
has also been reconsidered... I think it won't be available. Have to
check this last one...
Neuropean

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