Cribb sent in by one of our readers Ashok

In India, from our childhood, we usually come across the phrase ‘Export Quality’. Whenever we used to accompany our parents to market place to buy household kitchen utensils, cloths or similar items, we used to see a sticker pasted on the item as ‘Export Quality’ or the shopkeeper used to boast that the item is of Export Quality. It used to be general deception in the mind of people that anything bearing a tag of Export Quality should definitely be better than the similar product available in the local shops.

Sometimes ago I had a chance to attend a seminar organized by a local representative of a US based product. The product was now being manufactured in China besides USA and other European countries. The purpose of manufacturing in China was to be competitive and meet the additional need of Asian market including India. A Chinese delegation from China came and gave presentation on the product and its quality control.

As usual, at the end of presentation there was question time for the audience to clear any doubts or incase they want additional information.

After few technical questions, one of Indian representative stood and asked the Chinese representative on additional features provided in the product when it is exported to India. The Chinese representative could not understand the question and asked the Indian guest to explain as to what exactly he meant. The Indian guest elaborated that like in India, whenever we manufacture anything for export market, we take extra precautions to produce a better product with better quality control than what we manufacture for our Indian people. The Chinese delegate got stunned with this explanation. However he explained politely that they do not have this kind of double standard in China. Whatever they produce, they maintain only one standard, whether it is for local market or for export. There was a complete silence in the meeting room for few seconds.