The paper reports a study into set‐up time reduction and mistake proofing methods in a small company involved in the machining of precision components in small batches with high variety for the aerospace industry. The company has made some set‐up reductions mainly using work study related...

Reports the main findings of a study carried out into the quality improvement structure of six different companies. Among the findings is that an infrastructure in terms of TQM Steering Committee and improvements facilitators is necessary at the introduction and during the development stages of...

Outlines the establishment of Trafford Park Development Corporation and the subsequent setting up and development of the Trafford Park Performance and Quality Forum. The forum aims to benefit all companies by creating a more robust Trafford Park which will ideally safeguard the vast amount of...

Outlines the main findings of a longitudinal study into the use and application of quality management tools and techniques in a speciality chemicals manufacturer. Finds that the use of a particular tool or technique is related to the stage of development of the organization’s improvement...

From both fieldwork and the academic literature a number of issues have been identified which impact negatively on the sustaining of TQM in manufacturing organizations. The issues reflect a variety of business operations perspectives including continuous improvement, organizational behaviour,...

This paper outlines the key events and changes which have resulted in the transformation of the RHP Bearings Blackburn foundry from potential closure to a successful business unit within the NSK‐RHP European operation. It deals with aspects such as people development, policy deployment,...

Examines the issues and difficulties of developing a quality costing system in a small engineering company. Four different methods – departmental interviews, process mapping, departmental study, and checklist of cost elements – were used to identify the costs. The value of these methods are...

Reports an examination of the management’s, staff’s and operators’ attitudes to and awareness of the concept of quality costing in the division of a small‐ to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) manufacturing precision components for the aerospace industry. Despite a previous but...

The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to examine how manufacturing organisations used set‐up time reduction and mistake proofing methods. The study was conducted in companies involved in manufacturing precision components. It was found that the companies were approaching the...