Chileshe, N (2007) Quality management concepts, principles, tools and philosophies: A valid methodology for deployment within UK construction-related SMEs. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 5(1), pp. 49-67. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: The main aim of this paper is to provide a practical approach for understanding the quality management (QM) terminology. Design/methodology/approach: Using the existing QM measurement instruments available in literature, the terminology used is classified into constructs, practices and finally tools or techniques. QM may then be viewed as a combination of the three sets of terminology. This paper reports on the research which investigated the implementation of TQM within the constructional-related SMEs. Findings: The study classified the broad areas of where SMEs can align their TQM applications, into one of the following areas: customer-oriented TQM, supplier-oriented TQM, HRM-oriented TQM, or process-oriented. These four dimensions were deemed to be interrelated and mutually support each other. Originality/value: This study contributes to clarifying the conflicting results being reported in the QM literature which inevitably leads to having different levels of analysis of QM. Accordingly, the strength of QM compared with other business philosophies should then focus on the practical methodology, namely the practices and techniques.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | quality management; small to medium-sized enterprises; United Kingdom |
| Index terms: | dimension, quality management, implementation, methodology, United Kingdom, philosophy |
| Subjects: | health monitoring assessment and metrics, contractual arrangements, quality assurance, philosophical studies, research methods, Geography |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Procurement, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here