Xiaomi (小米) appliances boss urges turnaround on "poor quality" image, warns lagging suppliers will be cut

Key directive: quality as non-negotiable

It has been reported that Dan Lianyu (单联瑜), General Manager of Xiaomi (小米) Major Appliances, told an internal meeting that Xiaomi must actively reverse the entrenched perception that its appliances are "poor quality" and will eliminate suppliers who cannot keep pace with the business. The meeting — focused on quality, according to Sina Tech and IT Home reporting — set quality management as the baseline for every product-line decision and framed craftsmanship as the standard for every stage of production.

Progress, targets and concrete steps

Dan reviewed recent progress: Xiaomi Major Appliances has built full-stack self‑development capabilities across categories and begun moving into core components; a nascent "quality iron triangle" and more than 100 labs; a quality team exceeding 200 staff working in parallel with R&D; and a reorganized supply chain. For 2026 he outlined three priority tasks — strengthen evaluation of new technologies and materials; upgrade factories and automation to lift quality management; and proactively reshape consumer trust. He also reportedly said Xiaomi will continue to recruit high‑quality suppliers while removing those that lag.

Market context and challenges

Xiaomi's appliances business now covers refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and more. The brand carved out share by offering smart features and aggressive price-performance, and has sparked public clashes with incumbent appliance makers such as Gree. But can a company known for disruption become known for longevity? That is the test: appliances have 5–10 year lifecycles and perceived durability drives loyalty.

Strategic backdrop

These moves come as Chinese hardware firms increasingly push vertical integration and stronger supplier control amid global supply‑chain scrutiny and US‑China technology tensions. It has been reported that Xiaomi has already taken steps such as longer air‑conditioner warranties and launching its first major appliances factory — signals that the company intends to pair smart, affordable products with tighter quality assurance to win long‑term trust.