Nissan Quality Best Practice Visit – Sunderland

This best practice visit provides an in-depth look at how quality is embedded, managed, and sustained within a high-volume automotive manufacturing environment.

Nissan’s approach to quality continues to receive global recognition, most recently through top rankings in the 2025 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. This visit to Nissan Sunderland offers delegates the opportunity to explore how that performance is achieved in practice, through disciplined processes, strong leadership, and the consistent application of Total Quality Management (TQM) on the shop floor.

The day combines tailored discussion, detailed factory tours, and open Q&A to provide a clear view of how quality is designed into operations from the earliest stages of production through to final inspection.

Best Practice Focus

This visit focuses on practical quality management and assurance, including:

• Total Quality Management (TQM) in a live production environment

• Standard operations and quality discipline

• Quality assurance and inspection processes

• Problem-solving and defect prevention

• 5S and workplace standards

• Continuous improvement and quality ownership

The emphasis is on understanding how quality is built in, not inspected in.

Who Should Attend

This visit is designed for:

• Quality leaders and managers

• Manufacturing and operations leaders

• Continuous improvement practitioners

• Supervisors and team leaders with quality responsibility

It is particularly relevant for organisations operating high-volume or complex production processes.

What You Will Experience

Delegates will take part in a structured, behind-the-scenes programme including:

• A welcome and meet-and-greet session to align on quality focus areas

• Facilitated discussion on Nissan’s quality systems and priorities

• Two guided factory tours across key production areas, including:

  • Plastics inspection (on-line and off-line)

  • Press Shop quality checks and TPQC

  • Body Shop dimensional and ultrasonic inspection

  • Paint Shop quality controls

  • Trim & Chassis (T&C) final inspection and history card systems

• Insight into problem-solving, assurance methods, and quality ownership on the line

• Dedicated Q&A sessions to reflect on observations and learning

The visit is designed to be practical, detailed, and grounded in real operations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the visit, delegates will:

• Understand how quality is embedded throughout the production flow

• See how TQM principles are applied on the shop floor

• Gain insight into structured inspection and assurance systems

• Learn how leaders and teams maintain quality discipline at scale

• Take away practical ideas to strengthen quality systems in their own organisation

Host Experts

The visit is supported by experienced Nissan professionals, including:

• Training Controller (ABA AITT CAT 4 Tutor / Level 5 Lean Practitioner)

• Quality Supervisors

Their involvement provides practical insight across both systems and shop-floor application.

Indicative Agenda

09:00 – Welcome and overview of QA engineering roles

09:45 – Plant tour: Plastics inspection (on-line and off-line)

10:00 – Press Shop: quality checks of coils, blanks, and panels

10:30 – Press Shop TPQC: dimensional and in-depth panel checks

11:00 – Body Shop: ultrasonic checks and dimensional verification of sub-assemblies

11:30 – Paint Shop: quality checks through the paint process

12:00 – Lunch and Q&A

13:15 – Trim & Chassis: inspection systems, history cards, final line checks, VES overview

15:30 – Classroom-based Q&A and close

About Stratagia Best Practice Visits

Stratagia best practice visits are designed to be authentic, practical, and inspiring. They provide leaders and practitioners with direct exposure to real organisations, real challenges, and real ways of working, bridging the gap between theory and practice.