Abstract
The past decade has seen many firms focusing on Total Quality Management (TQM) as a means of improving profits, market share and competitiveness. Although TQM is a proven approach for success in manufacturing, services and the public sector, several organizations failed in their campaigns because of many reasons like lack of top management commitment, ignoring customers etc. This paper presents a study on certain specific factors that impact the success of the TQM implementation purely based on the secondary research. The research points out that, though most organizations start TQM efforts for their success, they are frequently exposed to the factors which may cause their TQM efforts to delay or even fail. TQM is a sure bet to reverse poor performance, but when it did not yield the expected results, it was deemed a failure. The review has been done to identify the common problems that lead to the failure of TQM implementation in the organization and has pointed out the critical success factors of TQM. Nevertheless, the overall results of this research imply that the understanding of the elements that cause failure to the TQM implementation can provide needed help for companies involved in long-term continuous improvement efforts. If the advanced TQM approach is properly followed, it will help the companies to achieve organizational excellence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahire, S. L., Waller, M. A. & Golhar, D. Y. (1996). Quality management in TQM versus non-TQM firms: an empirical investigation. International Journal of Quality 13(8): 8–27. URL: http://pippo.emerald-library.com/vl=32920236/cl=25/nw=1/rpsv/~1079/v13n8/s1/p8
Antony, J., Leung, K., Knowles, G. & Gosh, S. (2002). Critical success factors of TQM implementation in Hong Kong industries. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management 19(5): 551–566. URL: http://elvira.emeraldinsight.com/vl= 537775/cl=17/nw=1/fm=html/rpsv/cw/mcb/0265671x/v19n5/s4/p551
J. Bank (1992) Cutting the Cost of Quality, The Essence of Total Quality Management Prentice Hall International (UK) Ltd Hertfordshire
Biscoe, N. R. & Gryna, F. M. (1997). Assessing the Cost of Poor Quality in a Small Business. Knowledge Park. URL: http://www.qimpro.com/KnowledgePark/articles/ Assessing_Cost_of_Poor_Quality_in_a_’
R. Collins (1996) Total Quality Management, Effective Management C.C.H. International New Zealand
DeFeo, J. A. (2001). The Tips of the Iceberg, The Quality Progress, 30–37. URL: http://www.juran.com/research/articles/Tip20%of%20Icebergarticle.pdf
Domingo, R. T. (1995). Strategies in Quality Management. RTDONLINE.COM URL: http://www.rtdonline.cm/art56.html
J. R. Evan W. M. Lindsay (2002) Performance Measurement and Strategic Information Management, Human Resources Practices, The Management and Control of Quality South-Western Ohio
Fowler, C.J. (1996). TQM in NZ: what impact?, Australia Accountant December:53–54
C. J. Fowler (1999) ArticleTitleThe management accountant’s role in quality management: a Queensland perspective International Journal of Applied Quality Management 2 IssueID1 41–57 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1096-4738(99)80003-7
J.C. Groth (1995) ArticleTitleTotal Quality management: perspectives for leaders The TQM Magazine 7 IssueID3 54–59 Occurrence Handle10.1108/09544789510087788
J. Harrington (1987) The Improvement Process McGraw-Hill Singapore
Hendrick, K. B. & Singhal, V. R. (1999a). The Financial Justification of TQM. Cambridge: The Center for Quality Management Journal. URL: http://www.cqmextra.cqm.org/cqmjournal.nsf/reprint/rp09600
Hendrick, K. B. & Singhal, V. R. (1999b). New research proves that TQM is alive and well: the link between Total Quality Management and financial performance. Advanced Manufacturing Magazine. URL: http://www.advancedmanufacturing.com/October99/quality.html
Ho, S. K. M. & Fung, C. K. H (1994). Developing a TQM Excellence Model. The TQM Magazine 6(6): 24–30. URL: http://lucia.emerald-library.com/vl =47720610/cl=24/fm=html/nw=1/rpsv/cw/mcb/0954478x/v6n6/s5/p24
H. K. Jackson SuffixJr. N. L. Frigon (1998) A Practical Guide to Capacity Management, Fulfilling Customer Needs John Wiley & Sons Inc. New York
Kasul R. A. & Motwani, J. G. (1995). Total quality management in manufacturing: thematic factor assessment. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 12(3): 57–76. URL: http://dandini.emerald-library.com/vl=83866744/cl=14/fm=html/nw=1/rpsv/cw/mcb/0265671x/v12n3/s5/p57
Laszlo, G. P. (1997). The role of quality cost in TQM. The TQM Magazine 9(6): 410–413. URL: http://dandini.emerald-library.com/vl=83866744/cl=14/fm=html/nw=1/rpsv/cw/mcb/0954478x/v9n6/s5/p410
Lau, H. G. & Idris, M. A. (2001). The Soft Foundation of the Critical Success Factors on TQM Implementation in Malaysia. The TQM Magazine 13(1): 51–60 URL: http://www.emerald-library.com/ft
Lord, B. R. & Lawrence, S. TQM Implementation: A case study of MQT. New Zealand: Department of Accountancy, Finance and Information Systems, University of Canterbury and University of Waikato. URL: http://www.commerce.adelaide.edu.au/apira/papers/Lord33.pdf
J. S. Oakland (1993) Implementation of TQM and Management of Change, Total Quality Management: The Route to Improving Performance Butterworth- Heinemann Ltd Jordan Hill, Oxford
Oakland, J. (2000). From Quality to Excellence. Leeds: European Center of Business Excellence. URL: http://www.dti.gov.uk/quality
Sahni, A.& Gaetner, C. (1996). Quality: conducting cost/benefits analyses of implementing Total Quality Management. Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine. URL: http://wwwdevicelink.com/grabber.php3?URL=http://www.devicelink.com/mdd ... /024/html
Schmidt, S. R., Kiemele, M. J. & Cheek, T. F. Jr. Don’t Let TQM Drain You Dry Without any ROI. Colorado Springs: Air Academic Associates. URL: http://www.airacad.com/tqmroi.htm
J. A. F. Stoner R. E. Freeman (1992) Operations Management, Management Prentice-Hall International New Jersey
Thiagarajan, T. & Zairi, M. (1998). An empirical analysis of critical factors of TQM: a proposed tool for self-assessment and benchmarking purposes. Journal of Benchmarking for Quality Management and Technology. 5(4): 291–303. URL: http://elvira.emeraldinsight.com/vl=537775/cl=17/nw=1/rpsv/~1117/v5n4/s4/p291
Thiagaragan, T. Zairi, M. & Dale, B.G. (2000). A proposed model of TQM implementation based on an empirical study of Malaysian Industry. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 18(3): 289–306. URL: http://www.emerald-library.com/ft
Wood, S. (2001). Total Quality Management at Motorola. Emporia State University. URL: http://academic.emporia.edu/smithwil/001fmg456/eja/wood.html
Youngless, J. (2000). Total Quality Misconception, Quality in Manufacturing. URL: http://www.manufacturingcenter.com/qm/archives/0200/0200tqm.asp
Zhao, F. Inter-organization Excellence: A TQM Approach. The Centre for Management Quality Research, RMiT University. URL: http://www.cmqr.rmit.edu.au/publications/fzinterorg.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seetharaman, A., Sreenivasan, J. & Boon, L.P. Critical Success Factors of Total Quality Management. Qual Quant 40, 675–695 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-005-1097-2
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-005-1097-2