Auto Recalls Expected to Rise through 2016, Yet Few Have Product Safety and Recall Analytics Programs

NEW YORK -- Sept. 1, 2015: While many auto executives (42.3 percent) expect more industry recalls in 2015 and 2016, just 8 percent use advanced predictive analytics to help prevent, prepare for, and manage recalls, according to a recent online poll from Deloitte. Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) have no operational product safety and recall anticipatory analytic capabilities.

"The essential paradox is this: today's vehicles are among the highest quality ever produced from a safety and reliability standpoint; innovations in technology have accelerated such that manufacturers can now identify emerging safety and quality issues much sooner than before; and, regulatory scrutiny of the auto industry has increased dramatically during the past 12-18 months," said Robert Biskup, Deloitte Advisory director, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, and former automotive industry chief compliance officer. "While adequate early warning systems seem within reach, not all are taking advantage."

Derek Snaidauf, Deloitte Advisory senior manager in advanced analytics, Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP, added, "Many automakers still take a manual, rearview-mirror approach to vehicle quality and safety. But, leading OEMs are starting to adopt innovative analytic capabilities like proactive sensing for early issue identification and command centers for campaign management. By cross-source correlating internal and external data sources, employing specialized advanced analytics, and leveraging interactive visualizations, these companies can improve customer satisfaction, vehicle safety, and brand perceptions. They also can realize significant reductions in their total cost of quality spend."

Most respondents (90.8 percent) indicated that recalls are impacting the working relationships between suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

"Because the stakes are so high in recall management, it now makes even more sense for traditional automakers and those within their supply chains — particularly new industry entrants — to consider investing in predictive analytics capabilities that can help detect trouble earlier," said Bruce Brown, principal and U.S. automotive and off-highway consulting practice leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Once in place, those competencies can also facilitate richer collaboration and communication between involved parties in times of investigation or crisis."

One of the biggest challenges to OEM-supplier collaboration in preventing, preparing for and managing recall-related events was ineffective communication channels (21.7 percent).

About the online poll More than 760 professionals from sectors including banking and securities; investment management; technology; automotive; retail and distribution; and, process and industrial products responded to polling questions during a June 17, 2015 webcast, titled "Recall Readiness and Management in the Automotive Industry." Responses from only the 78 auto sector participants were analyzed for this press release. Click here to listen to the Deloitte Dbriefs webcast: Recall Practices