Explores the dynamic relationships involved in achieving a strategic quality orientation in a business setting. The relevant literature was revived. A methodology for implementing a strategic quality perspective was developed and tested in a field study. The methodology stresses both the...

This article uses data collected from direct observations made during visits to over 20 Asian companies over a period of four years (1992‐1995) and discusses the culture and managerial approaches of companies located in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. The main objective of these...

This paper compares quality management practices in manufacturing companies in the East and the West. It uses data collected from three countries in the East, namely Japan, Korea and Taiwan and compares these with data collected from four countries in the West, namely Denmark, Finland, Sweden...

This paper discusses the adoption of total quality management in seven Australian organisations based on case study research. It reports on the reasons for adopting TQM, planning and implementation issues, benefits achieved and the limitations and difficulties associated with the introduction of...

This article has two main sections. The first section presents the theoretical underpinnings for the development of a cultural analysis model that companies should undertake prior to embarking on a TQM programme. The PCOC model (Personal, Customer orientation, Organisational and Cultural issues)...

This paper contributes to, and links the areas of quality management and buyer‐supplier relationships. In doing so, we seek to address two broad research questions. To what extent do quality practices impact upon the various dimensions of quality performance, manufacturing performance and, in...

Ten factories in Spain (eight non‐Japanese‐owned plants and two Japanese transplants) were evaluated using the Kobayashi 20‐key scoring method on issues such as cleanliness, quick set‐up practices, coupled manufacturing, level production scheduling, quality assurance policies, small...

Reports the findings of a research project into the development of a total quality methodology for strategic use by senior management teams aimed at enabling them to audit current approaches, revise where ecessary, and then implement in order to produce TQM programmes which are resilient in the...

In the 1980s it became increasingly apparent that the management of change is a crucial factor in organizational performance. However, it became equally apparent that many organizations found great difficulty in successfully planning and implementing change. One oft‐quoted reason for this was...

Notes a broad agreement that small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) fulfil a critical role in modern economies, and therefore their ability to survive, remain competitive and produce high quality outputs is of utmost importance at both micro and macro levels. Focuses on total quality...