The development of total quality management in Qatar

Effect of total quality management practices on nonfinancial performance: an empirical analysis of automotive engineering industry in Ethiopia

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the total quality management (TQM) practices and identify their effect on the nonfinancial performance (NFP) in the automotive engineering industry in Ethiopia. Despite many studies investigating the relationship between TQM practices and NFP, rare research has been conducted on TQM in automotive industries, making this a hugely unexplored field.

Design/methodology/approach

The data underlying this study was collected using more than 500 self-administered questionnaire survey, distributed to the employees working under different departments and factories under one automotive engineering industry. Extensive data screening and refinement processes for discarding irrelevant items for the questionnaire (Likert five-point scale) were carried out. The data was employed to test the proposed theoretical model, established with the objective of assessing the effect of TQM practices on the NFP in the case industry. Empirical validated relations have been proofed for previously done researches that there were positive relations between the TQM practices and NFP. Different statistical tools applied include descriptive data analysis, correlation analysis, mean scale test, reliability analysis and factor analysis, and finally, two models were developed based on structural equation modeling by using SPSS and AMOS-26 software.

Findings

Results found in this study were quite surprising. Initially, there was a total of ten TQM factors. The six independent factors survived from factor analysis only two factors (employee involvement and innovation) were contributing to the NFP. The study was acted as a performance evaluation system to track the industry NFP. Although the study focused on the effect of TQM practices, for more results it is recommended to conduct a 360-degree further research study to reveal the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and challenges of the case industry performance.

Research limitations/implications

Every research has its own limitations. The way the analysis is conducted in this study ensures that the limitations do not compromise the validity of the results obtained. Control variables (industry type, size, age, process type and technology used) are not considered in the research which may affect the results obtained. The study included the automobile industry alone, so the obtained results cannot be generalized to other industries.

Practical implications

The positive relationship between the TQM practices and NFP measures indicates the importance of each of these practices in improving the industry. Researchers/managers/practitioners can use this developed model periodically to understand where the industry stands in the quality management journey. They can also analyze the effect of TQM practices on financial as well as operational performance measures. The research findings can also motivate the top management of the industry for better planning of goals, to arrange resources in time, in pursuit of improving quality, employee and industry performance.

Originality/value

The Ethiopian manufacturing industry is required to improve their manufacturing and service quality, in order to enhance their productivity and boost their competitiveness in an international market, which is the basis of this study. This study signifies one of the first attempts to empirically explore this linkage between TQM and performance in the Ethiopian automotive industry context.

Insights into the reasons behind the limited implementation of ISO 9001 certification: empirical evidence from Yemen

Purpose

While ISO 9001 standard certification is approaching saturation in developed countries, other nations are still struggling with the implementation of ISO 9001. This study provides insights into countries with a very low number of registered certifications to understand the reasons behind the limited implementations, more particularly using evidence from Yemen. The objective of the study is to assess: the awareness, understanding, motivations, barriers and the benefits of implementing ISO 9001.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to measure awareness levels, understanding, driving factors, barriers and the benefits of ISO 9001. Data collection was carried out through the classification of targeted firms into two separate categories, certified and noncertified organizations. The classification of firms was conducted to enrich the understanding from two different perspectives. A total of 72 responses, from companies ranging in size from large to small, and in both the private and public sectors, were analyzed using the descriptive and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA).

Findings

The data analysis showed that the limited implementation of ISO 9001 certifications could be due to several internal and external factors such as the relatively low awareness level of the certification and guidelines, and the inconsistency of understanding the certification purpose. The benefits focused solely on improving the quality of systems efficiency and increasing quality awareness, and not on internationalization.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this work provide the groundwork for decision-makers to understand the drivers and challenges of ISO 9001 to plan corrective actions and contribute to promote and increase the number of certified organizations in similar countries and economies. While the data in this study were collected in the context of one country, the methodology and framework used in this study can be utilized by other researchers to collect data in similar countries with a low number of ISO 9001 certifications.

Originality/value

This research is one of the very few that addresses the limited implementation of ISO 9001 in the Middle East and North Africa region and Yemen in particular.

Assessment of cultural fit between buyers and suppliers

Purpose

The present study proposes a model to examine the cultural fit between buyers and suppliers for establishing synergies in their processes and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study assessed buyers' culture through the Competing Values Framework and used Quality Management Practices Model as a proxy to assess suppliers' culture. The data from 262 paired respondents were used for this analysis. This survey was administered in India, using linear snowball-sampling technique. This study applied 3SLS regression for each culture group separately.

Findings

This study has instituted the cultural fit between the buyers' and suppliers' culture. It is observed that for getting synergies between cultures, buyers need to choose a set of suppliers which have similar cultural traits.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents empirical findings based on data from Indian manufacturing firms. These findings need testing in other developing countries and other sectors.

Practical implications

Organizations can formulate right policies for supplier selection based on the cultural fit between buyers and suppliers.

Originality/value

With increasing role of suppliers in the value chain, organizations around the world need to work with the right suppliers for gaining a sustainable competitive advantage. Selection of the right suppliers depends on the cultural fit between buyers and suppliers that, in turn, depends on the selection of the right suppliers based on the prevailing culture.

The synergistic impact of ISO 9000 and TQM on operational performance and competitiveness

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of integrating ISO 9000 and total quality management (TQM) on operational performance of manufacturing organizations and their journey toward achieving world-class manufacturing (WCM) status.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a conceptual model and its empirical validation based on a sample of 2,961 responses from one developing and three developed economies. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test five main hypotheses.

Findings

Plants that integrate ISO 9000 and TQM progressed faster toward achieving WCM status and have better operational performance in terms of quality management, inventory management, time-based performance, and competitiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The sample from the developing economy includes only 254 responses, while the one from the three developed economies includes 2,907 responses.

Practical implications

Findings of this study have many implications for both academic and practitioners. These findings encourage practitioners to consider ISO 9000 and TQM as complementary, not substitutes.

Social implications

Developing economies should follow the footsteps of developed economies in considering quality as a competitive advantage in global markets.

Originality/value

The paper addresses in a unique and unprecedented way the synergistic impact of ISO 9000 and TQM on operational performance. The study is the first in its kind to include responses from both developing and developed economies. The development of the synergy index was never addressed before.

Why TQM programmes fail? A pathology approach

Purpose

– Implementing total quality management (TQM) is not without difficulties and achieving its promised benefits is not easy. The purpose of this paper is to identify the barriers to TQM successful implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review has been done to explore the major reasons for the failure of TQM programmes.

Findings

– An examination of 54 TQM empirical studies identified 54 obstacles to successful TQM implementation. There are both theoretical and practical difficulties in applying TQM in organisations. An ineffective TQM package, inappropriate TQM implementation methods and an inappropriate environment for implementing TQM are the main reasons for TQM failure. The most frequently mentioned reasons for TQM implementation failures include insufficient education and training, lack of employees’ involvement, lack of top management support, inadequate resources, deficient leadership, lack of a quality-oriented culture, poor communication, lack of a plan for change and employee resistance to the change programme.

Research limitations/implications

– The review was limited to articles written in English language during the past 30 years (1980-2010).

Practical implications

– TQM does deliver better performance when an appropriate model of TQM is appropriately implemented in a supportive environment. The findings of this paper provide managers with a practical understanding of the factors that are likely to obstruct TQM implementation. Managers should overcome these barriers to achieve the TQM benefits.

Originality/value

– Understanding the factors that are likely to obstruct TQM implementation will help organisations in planning better TQM models.

An empirical investigation of the influence of organizational culture on individual readiness for change in Syrian manufacturing organizations

Purpose

– While few recent studies have paid attention to the relationship between organizational culture (OC) and individual readiness for change (IRFC), there is still a lack of systematic and empirical studies regarding the influence of all OC types on the IRFC components within the change management literature. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by empirically examining the influence of all four organizational culture types of the competing values framework (CVF) on the components of IRFC regarding TQM implementation, within the context of manufacturing organizations operating in Syria.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of four hypotheses were proposed for testing. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 350 Syrian manufacturing organizations (SMOs) in order to measure the level of IRFC and to identify the cultural profiles and characteristics of these organizations.

Findings

– The analysis of the data collected shows that certain types of organizational culture are conducive to fostering IRFC. In particular, the findings of an empirical investigation revealed that group culture and adhocracy culture are the most supportive culture types for IRFC.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the existing literature of change management by providing empirical evidence leading to advancement of knowledge and the understanding of the relationship between OC types and IRFC components. Furthermore, the paper adds value via its contextual originality; being the first study that empirically examined the Syrian cultural context, and hence contributing to the scarce body of literature of both OC and IRFC, and in particular the developing countries.

Convergence theory in quality management: evidence from the petroleum industry

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of top management support for quality and human resource management practices on quality results in the petroleum industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was used to collect data from managers in the petroleum industry. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

Consistent with previous studies, the results provide support for the importance of top management commitment to quality in emphasizing other quality practices. The relationship between top management support and employee involvement was also significant.

Research limitations/implications

A larger sample is needed to validate the findings of this study. Future studies should address the impact of other quality management practices on quality outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings provide support for the convergence theory and contingency theory in quality management.