Understanding and Modeling Seat J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Survey Results

This study identifies and weights statistically significant factors within the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL survey that directly influence the customers' ratings for the vehicle seating system and driver's seat comfort. Three regressions were completed using mean model data from the 2003 Wave 2 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL survey. The first regression uses only seat specific characteristics. The second furthers the first seeking the customer's voice on the complete seating system but includes additional non-seat specific factors. The final regression studies driver's comfort while considering the same non seat specific factors from the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL survey. It concludes with multiple prediction or simulation equations. The APEAL method is unknown to the author and confidential to J.D. Power and Associates.