German Approach
Germans expect a product to never break down. Not only the German engineer thinks this, but also the German consumer. A reliable product, like a reliable person, always delivers on its promise. Examples
American Approach
Americans expect a product to function well under adverse conditions. If it has problems, the supplier compensates by providing good service, at minimum additional cost and inconvenience. Examples
American View
Americans tolerate less reliability as long as it is made up for in service response time. In fact, a technically more reliable product can be more be more problematic if its service contract and its service provider are unresponsive and/or expensive. Reliability is just one product characteristic.
German View
Germans pride themselves on technical prowess. An unreliable product of their own making is a reason for embarrassment. An unreliable product of another‘s making is unacceptable. Germans find American products to be less reliable.
Advice to Germans
Enter into and remain in dialogue about how you define reliability, what are the market demands, where is your competition, how you can meet, possibly surpass the market and the competition.
Advice to Americans
Enter into and remain in dialogue about how you define reliability, what are the market demands, where is your competition, how you can meet, possibly surpass the market and the competition.