J. D. Power and Associates

Infobox Company
company_name = J.D. Power and Associates
company_
company_type = Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies
foundation = Agoura Hills (1968)
founder = James David Power III
location_city = Westlake Village
location_country = United States
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industry = Marketing Research
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services =
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slogan = Turning Information into Action
homepage = [http://www.jdpower.com www.jdpower.com]
dissolved =
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J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 by James David Power III. The firm conducts surveys of customer satisfaction, product quality, and buyer behavior for industries ranging from cars to restaurants. The firm is best known for its customer satisfaction research on new-car quality and long-term dependability. Its service offerings include industry-wide syndicated studies, proprietary research, consulting, training, and automotive forecasting.cite web|url=http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/040315/15eepower.htm|title=USNews.com: From boats to Internet service, J. D. Power lives to rank|accessdate=2007-04-05|date=2004-03-07 |format=HTML |publisher=US News|language=English] It was ISO 9001 certified in 2002. [ [http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2002121 J.D. Power and Associates Earns International Recognition For Quality and Business Practices by Achieving ISO 9001:2000 Registration] ] The company is a business unit of the Information and Media Group of McGraw-Hill, who purchased it from James David Power III in April of 2005.

Marketing research

J.D. Power and Associates' marketing research consists primarily of consumer surveys. The company bears the cost of developing and administering specific surveys with sample sizes of between several hundred and over 100,000. [http://www.answers.com/topic/j-d-power-and-associates Encyclopedia of Company Histories - J.D. Power and Associates] ] J.D. Power ratings are based on the survey responses of randomly selected and/or specifically targeted consumers. J.D. Power relies on consumer reporting for study results as well as in-house vehicle testing for opinion based reviews in Blogs.

Although publicly known for the endorsement value of its product awards, J.D. Power obtains the majority of its revenue from corporations that seek the data collected from J.D. Power surveys for internal use. Companies which have used J.D. Power surveys range from Automotive, cellphone, and computer manufacturers to Home Builders, and Utility companies. To be able to use the J.D. Power logo and to quote the survey results in advertising, companies must pay a licensing fee to J.D. Power. These advertisement licensing fees, however, form a small part of J.D. Power's revenues. In the 1990s, J.D. Power tightened its rules on awards advertising to prevent excessive use of the J.D. Power logo.

Automotive surveys

J.D. Power conducts multiple annual surveys of the automotive industry in the U.S. as well as in other countries. The Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) is a measure of problems experienced after three years of ownership, while the Initial Quality Study (IQS) is a measure of problems experienced within the first 90 days of ownership. Other surveys include the APEAL survey, reflecting consumer's attitudes towards a vehicle's attributes, dealership service surveys, and customer purchasing experience surveys. Similar versions of the Vehicle Dependability and Initial Quality Studies are performed internationally, and usually released with the country's name, followed by the same title, e.g. Taiwan Initial Quality Study.

International research

J.D. Power has expanded internationally, bringing the language of customer satisfaction to consumers and businesses in India, Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and France. [ [http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/about/overview About the Firm | J.D. Power and Associates ] ]

In the United Kingdom, the J.D. Power UK Car Customer Satisfaction Index reviews all cars that have reached two years of age at the time of publication. Surveys are conducted in partnership with UK automotive publication "What Car?", which publishes the survey results. [ [http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=214562 What Car? JD Power Survey] ] The UK car survey consists of comments and ratings entirely from the members of the public who bought the cars new two years previously, and are thus in a more meaningful position to comment on the car than anyone testing it for a few days. Satisfaction is based on a number of different criteria, and when the many thousands of marks in each area for each car are added up, an overall score is available. [ [http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2004034 2004 UK Car Customer Satisfaction Index] ] The list usually comprises about 130 cars and is published every year in the UK.

References

ee also

* Marketing research
* Customer satisfaction research

External links

* [http://www.jdpower.com/corporate J.D. Power and Associates Corporate Site]
* [http://www.jdpower.com J.D. Power and Associates Consumer Site]