A Survey on Total Quality Management Implementation in Malaysian Manufacturing Companies

• Main Author: Tan, Hui Mieng
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 1997
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9994/1/FK_1997_1_A.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9994/

The manufacturing sector plays a significant role in the success of the industrial development in Malaysia and contributes significantly to the Malaysian economy. With market globalisation, Malaysian manufacturing companies (MMC) must improve their competitiveness to face the stiff challenges in both domestic or international marketplaces. In today's marketplace, quality has become the main focus for better competitiveness. Hence, Total Quality Management (TQM), the latest and most comprehensive quality management philosophy that is capable of improving factors determining competitiveness, is the strategy recommended for improving MMC's competitiveness. In this thesis, a survey was carried out on MMC to understand their quality management status. The survey found many opportunities for improvements in MMC's TQM implementation. On the basis of the survey and literature review, a four-step implementation approach on the foundation of ISO 9000 was formulated to implement TQM in MMC. The four steps were : obtain ISO 9000 certification, understand the differences and similarities between ISO 9000 and TQM, implement TQM, and continue improvements. The success in implementing all four steps will lead to improved competitiveness of MMC through Total Quality Management.