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This study tries to develop a practically applicable product quality competitiveness model based on the model by Korean Standards Association and Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (2007). For this, 6 models comparing product quality or competitiveness across diverse countries including WEF, Business Competitiveness Index, Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, KS-QEI and National Design Competition Power Index are reviewed. Based on the review, an evaluation model that measures quality competitiveness of products or particular industries among countries is developed. Here, quality competitiveness is defined, as shown in

, to include four dimensions, design quality, production quality, usage quality, and management quality. It is also designed to incorporate various factors which constitute quality dimension in the area of both firms and consumers. Finally, variables for both end-products, internal factors of manufacturers, and the infrastructure of a country are included in the model as variables of competitiveness level. The model is applied to 4 major home appliances (TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner)among 5 countries (Korea, US, Japan, Germany, China). For this, 3 types of data are collected and analyzed. First, consumer survey of 1,200 respondents with product usage experience is performed using online research firms. Secondly, online survey targeting experts in consumer electronics is implemented using the expert panel of research firms in each of 5 countries. Relative importance of 4 quality dimensions is measured and calculated based on the AHP method from experts survey. Thirdly, secondly data for market share and the number of patents are collected for each product and country. Based on the AHP evaluation by experts, relative weight of four quality dimensions is calculated. For all product categories, usage quality is found to be the most important factor, followed by production quality. Results of this study show that except China, no significant difference in quality exists among the evaluated countries. The quality competitiveness score of Korean products is 67.3 and is similar to Germany (69.0), Japan (68.5), and US (67.8), which are known to have high reputation for quality competitiveness. The score of China is found to be low at 60.9. However, in the evaluation by experts, the gap between Korea and other developed countries is larger. Among 4 quality dimensions, usage quality is found to be very high for Korean products, followed by design and production quality. Out of 4 product categories surveyed, the quality of Korean TV is evaluated highest, second to Japan. For AC, the quality of Korean products is ranked as second with US and Japan. The evaluation for Korean refrigerator and washing machine is relatively lower compared to other countries.