I have been researching the subject of quality management since 1981. During this time, research funding to the order of 4.5m pounds has been received to advance the subject of quality management. Arising from this and other non-funded research, 10 books and over 400 papers have been published....

Increased control of the process through, for example, reduction of special and common causes of variation, is fundamental to total quality management (TQM), yet this is one of the main areas targeted by its critics. However, there appears to be much misunderstanding between those from the...

For companies striving towards total quality management and continuous improvement it is important to be sure that employees are receiving the right messages. A new non‐scoring audit tool, developed in work with UK companies, assesses whether human resource policies are integrated with quality...

Over the past decade, the establishment and growth of quality awards has stimulated organizational self‐assessment using the award models. Four new methods developed from fieldwork in the UK can be used not only to support the gathering of data required by the models, but also in stand‐alone...

Quality circles are now a worldwide phenomenon but their survival depends on many factors. Some of the problems faced by quality circle facilitators were highlighted by this research in the NW of England.

Outlines the key findings of applying the UMIST Total Quality Management Sustaining Audit Tool at Aeroquip Iberica. Presents findings using the five‐part category classification of internal/external environment, management style, policies, organization structure and the process of change....

Earlier this year Dr Barrie Dale led a quality fact‐finding mission to Japan. Eighteen European managers had a unique opportunity of seeing first‐hand the Japanese approach to Total Quality. This review provides insights into their quality practices and identifies the key elements common to...

Most organisations experience difficulties when implementing and developing SPC. The mistakes can be avoided. This paper provides the framework for the successful introduction of Statistical Process Control.

Starting the journey towards Total Quality Management can be very complex. The author has surveyed delegates to TQM conferences to see how far down the road their companies are progressing.

A summary, in bullet‐point format, of the main issues and queries that need to be addressed in the development of quality costing, based on research work carried out at the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology over the previous nine years. Examines the role of quality...