The area of business process management (BPM) is a relatively new field and there is little academic literature on the subject. This paper critically examines the literature to pinpoint BPM definitions, approaches and principles. A study is reported of a business unit of a “world class”...

This paper examines two research questions. First, is a re‐engineered company a suitable platform for the subsequent application of TQM principles? Second, is BPR an appropriate means to transform an organisation operating along traditional lines into one which is managed using TQM principles?...

Examines a range of reasons relating to ISO 9000 series certification and the implementation of total quality management (TQM). Identifies five different types of strategies in relation to the approach taken to ISO 9000 series certification and defines their key characteristics. Also identifies...

Quality Circles are organisational options that are aimed at helping employees at all levels to achieve greater job satisfaction; they seek to increase productivity and product quality through direct employee participation. The underlying assumption is that such participation will result in...

The management of quality is a major consideration in the factors governing the demand for products and extends into all parts of the company. This was the theme of the National Quality Campaign, launched by Lord Cockfield in April 1983. One initiative of the campaign was to hold a series of...

Commitment to the management of quality is central to success and the improvement of market share, as demonstrated by analysis of quality case histories (relating to seven companies) presented last year as part of the Department of Trade and Industry's National Quality Campaign. In each case the...

Materials management de facto has existed for many years in terms of procedures for buying and processing material to meet orders for finished products. However, the term itself first came into vogue in the mid 1960s and various commentators have pointed to different factors which have led to...

This article discusses the main performance measures used by five different companies. In the four private‐sector companies studied, the emphasis is on finding ways to measure purchasing contribution to profitability — hence accounting measures form the basis of the main control tools,...

An investigation has been carried out within a multinational engineering corporation into the role of purchasing within a corporate structure. The main research method was case studies of corporate purchasing and three factory buying departments. It was found that the division of...

There is no great reservoir of literature available to the serious student of that part of management sciences known as purchasing. Although there are a number of textbooks prepared by academics in purchasing, much of the authorship of other purchasing‐related literature has been undertaken by...