A study of TQM implementation in Thailand

Addressing strategic human resource management practices for TQM: the case of an Indian tire manufacturing company

Purpose

This study aims to identify SHRM (strategic human resource management) essential practices for the TQM (total quality management) program regarding an Indian tire manufacturing company and formulate an inclusive interrelationship to prioritize them.

Design/methodology/approach

Semistructured interview with ten experts from the company was made to give SHRM practices scores. The SLR (systematic literature review) and TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) techniques are used to establish the model for 12 key practices and rank them afterward.

Findings

The findings clearly show that strategic planning and staffing, teamwork and leadership development have appeared as the top three essential practices. Simultaneously, performance measurement and evaluation, work design and analysis and promotion are identified as the bottom three practices. These essential practices are identified as contributing attributes.

Practical implications

The findings prioritize the SHRM practices as contributing attributes that help other tire manufacturing industries identify their key practices. Moreover, it provides the necessary inputs comprised of ten experts' decisions to become more active and well prepared.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to identify the key practices by using SLR and measured by the TOPSIS method to rank and consider a tire manufacturing company as a case-based approach to gain high productivity and competitive advantage.

A MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT FOR TQM IMPLEMENTATION IN THE THAI MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

It is particularly important for developing countries to define useful TQM constructs to measure these principles, and their effect on improvement of performance. This research is aimed at measuring TQM constructs in the Thai manufacturing industry and Thai culture. The research identifies nine TQM implementation constructs and one outcome construct. A measurement instrument is developed based on a survey of some 275 ISO 9000 certified manufacturing companies in Thailand. A stepwise regression model is then used to identify the primary implementation construct regressors that significantly influence the outcome construct. The results show that customer focus, continuous improvement, top management commitment, employee involvement and product innovation are significantly and positively related to product quality. The findings are useful for practitioners and academia in developing countries.

Pay‐off selection criteria for quality and improvement initiatives

Purpose

The variety of possible quality management (QM) and continuous improvement (CI) initiatives and their various possible permutations can make it difficult for a company to choose the best approach for their requirements. This paper aims to address the selection issue by presenting a method to compare popular QM and CI initiatives from the perspective of the pay‐offs, or expected benefits, to an organisation which successfully adopts the approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The relevant QM and CI literature was analysed, examining key initiatives and their reported pay‐offs to the organisation. A matrix diagram approach is introduced which presents the extent and credibility of arguments advanced for these initiatives, in seven categories of pay‐off. A system of assessment is proposed, which quantifies the extent and weight of empirical evidence and estimates the strength of the claim for each pay‐off.

Findings

The pay‐off matrix summarises the claims in each of the pay‐off categories, assesses their credibility, and displays the similarities and differences for six key initiatives: total quality management, six sigma, ISO 9000, business process reengineering, lean and business excellence. Graphical pay‐off profiles are presented. Significant differences between the claimed pay‐offs for these initiatives are identified, analysed and discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed matrix and assessment system attempts to support a comprehensive and rational approach to assess the pay‐offs of QM and CI initiatives. As with any analysis of literature, there is inevitably an element of selection, but this approach consciously attempts to avoid omission and promote objectivity. The analysis is based on articles published between 1990 and 2005. Hence, new research and additional evidence may change the weight and credibility of claims.

Originality/value

This paper suggests a way in which evidence from the literature might be most effectively used by managers for decision support in the choice of quality and improvement initiatives. A similar approach might also be used for other areas, where businesses face choices and a considerable body of evidence exists to assist the decision‐making process.