The product lifecycle strategies practice of IDC Manufacturing Insights is developing a Warranty Management Maturity Model. The proposed standard framework will help companies to assess the maturity and capabilities of their warranty organizations, benchmark against peers and practice continuous improvement. It equips manufacturers with standard language, metrics, maturity stages and a basis for the best practices and technologies that can lead to improved performance and faster business transformation, IDC said. The firm is working with members of the Institute of Warranty Claim Management (iWCM), Warranty Week newsletter and industry representatives to test the initial model. Other organizations, including the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA) and Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) are supporting the initiative as well. Following full development of the model, IDC will launch a large-scale industry assessment survey through Warranty Week, open to product quality and warranty executives worldwide. The framework and study results will be presented at the Warranty Chain Management Conference in March, 2011 in San Diego, Calif. Once the model is finalized, IDC will turn it over to the iWCM and its members for future maintenance and development of training courses.

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