HIGH GLOSS SURFACES: VALID QUALITY EVALUATION

The quality sensation regarding to high gloss surfaces is mainly influenced by the optical impression. For the evaluation of this multifactorial property currently no standard methodical procedure is defined. Present some measurement as well as sensory evaluations are used for the quality assessment of high gloss surfaces. Regarding to Six Sigma, for proper customer satisfaction the voice of the customer needs to be transferred into specific product criteria which are measurable. Associated to the research project "Development of a global quality concept for furniture high gloss surfaces" at the University of Applied Science Ostwestfalen-Lippe possible customers were asked to rank some high gloss samples according to their quality perception. In addition these high gloss surfaces were gauged by common measurements. Building up the basis for a comprehensive quality scale by the analysis of correlations between the measured values and the quality impression of the customers is the subject matter. The waviness of a high gloss surface seems to be an appropriate indicator for perceive quality. For end users brilliance an even surface and the absence of errors are attributes of an upmarket high gloss surface. Whatever the suface is not the tangible criterion for the purchase decision of furniture in general, design, production quality and price, which are directly affected by surface properties, are more clinches.