M9 production rate

[roydonian]

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According to the Leica press release dated 18 August 2011 acknowledging the false ‘Battery Low’ indication reported by some users (see the ‘M9 Battery Low Issue’ thread on this forum):

 

“There have been 15 cases of this problem, which is equal to 0.05% of the total units sold.”

 

If that statement is correct, the problem has affected one camera in 5,000. If 15 cameras were faulty (three of which were reported in this thread), then the M9 production run to date has been around 45,000 cameras in about two years.

 

 

That seems to confirm a remark made by Stefan Daniel when interviewed by the French magazine 'Lense' following the M9-P launch:

 

“You have to go very far back to find such sales. The last time that such quantities were sold was in the 1960s…Even the M6 was not selling as many items per year as this body…it compares with the era of the M3 or M4.”

 

 

He also stated that the company was moving to shift work in order to increase output:

 

“Currently the plant is at the limit of its capacity, the only thing that we can and we will try to do, is to create two shifts - one day and one night…we are in the process of hiring more people for the night shift. But we have to train them.”

 

 

He also made an interesting comment regarding the current demand for lenses

 

“Demand for [new] lenses shows that there are many new customers. Because existing customers already have their optics… so they buy a new [M9] body and that's it. But there is a huge demand for lenses. That shows us that there are many new clients entering the system.”

 

 

Hs comment about customer expectations is also worth repeating here:

 

“I always say "we have the best customers in the world." Because they are very loyal, but when something does not please them they say it…and I appreciate [that], because for a different brand maybe they will sell and leave without saying anything. But with Leica as they are passionate they say "I do not like it," "We must improve that," – it makes my life easier, it's 'market research' for free!”

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

[ho_co]

Doug, good work! Thanks for posting that summary. Leica has certainly been doing something right recently; let's hope it continues. You sure can't complain that this company doesn't respond to customer complaints!

 

For sake of completeness, could you post links to the threads and articles you've quoted, for those who aren't following matters as closely as you?

 

The "M9 Battery Low" press release, I see, is at Leica Camera AG - Leica M9 / Battery Low Issue.

[roydonian]

The ‘Battery Low’ thread is right here in the M9 forum.

 

 

The Leica press release is at:

 

Leica Camera AG - Leica M9 / Battery Low Issue

 

 

 

The interview with Stefan Daniel is available (in French) at:

 

Leica M9-P, Hybride… Stephan Daniel nous dit tout – Lense.fr

 

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

[mmradman]

“There have been 15 cases of this problem, which is equal to 0.05% of the total units sold.”

 

If that statement is correct, the problem has affected one camera in 5,000. If 15 cameras were faulty (three of which were reported in this thread), then the M9 production run to date has been around 45,000 cameras in about two years.

 

 

 

Doug

 

It could be 15,000 units less...

 

100 x ( 1 / 0.05 ) = 2,000

One camera in every 2,000

 

2,000 x 15 = 30,000 units

 

Still significant figure.

[k-hawinkler]

Please see here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/1795399-post27.html.

Unfortunately, Leica seemed to have arrived at their number in that case by a method criticized here

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/1795965-post30.html.

 

If one takes the number of problem M9s reported here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-sd-card-issues/194483-leica-m9-sd-card-problem-reports.html when Leica made this statement Leica Camera AG - LEICA M9 / SDHC Card compatibility on 8/8/2011 then the number of sold M9 units seems to be around 45,000.

 

Of course, more problem M9s have been reported since on this forum and on other sites so that Leica's <0.1% number may no longer apply or may not have been correct at all.

 

K-H.

[roydonian]

It could be 15,000 units less...

 

A classic example of how someone close to 70 should not try to type and do mental arithmetic at the same time!

 

Thanks for the timely correction.

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

[likalar]

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"“Currently the plant is at the limit of its capacity, the only thing that we can and we will try to do, is to create two shifts - one day and one night…we are in the process of hiring more people for the night shift. But we have to train them.”>>

 

I can see it now, a couple years down the road: For Sale by fussy owner, M9, lightly used, verified day shift built camera.

Premium asking price, of course.

 

Larry

[250swb]

I can see it now, a couple years down the road: For Sale by fussy owner, M9, lightly used, verified day shift built camera.

Premium asking price, of course.

 

But how do you know it wasn't built on a Friday afternoon?

 

 

Steve

[photolandscape]

But how do you know it wasn't built on a Friday afternoon?

 

 

Steve

 

Funny, I have managed large manfacturing operations with about 150 total employees on hand during first shift, and essential manufacturing employees (60 or so) on hand during second shift. In my experience, a disproportionate number of the best, most productive employees worked second shift, and produced more work and work of a higher quality on average. Why? Not because of the puny pay differential, but because there weren't so many cooks running the kitchen at night. They had their jobs to do and did them. I would worry more about new or under-trained employees than the time of day they work.