Executive Summary
Manufacturing companies including a local micro-enterprise - Quality Postform Ltd are persistently facing competitive pressures as a consequence of customers demanding higher quality products. The emergence of Quality Management has been attributed by many researchers and Quality Gurus including Phil Crosby as a strategic imperative for typical organisations to survive within a highly competitive environment. Nevertheless, research carried out throughout the past years is relatively restricted regarding the practicality of micro-manufacturing firms in implementing Crosby’s Quality Improvement Programme, which is claimed to be highly beneficial in typical situations. This dissertation seeks to investigate this scenario from both a descriptive and critical perspective towards Quality Postform Ltd.
The research provides a critical evaluation of the academic contributions towards the quality management concept. Distinct disputed viewpoints have been identified focusing on Crosby’s 14-Step Quality Improvement Programme. From one end of the spectrum, supporters uphold that claimed benefits have been acknowledged. Alternatively, others sustain that in essence a Quality Improvement Programme is counter-productive in terms of its application within Small and Medium sized Enterprises. However the researcher has identified four key pre-requisites in order for micro-firms to effectively implement Crosby’s programme. These include: management commitment, the acknowledgement of a quality problem, the organisation’s readiness to embrace change together with the suppliers’ readiness to support the quality programme.
The methodology applied to assess the presence of these four pre-requisites at QPL was to compile primary, qualitative data through one-to-one / face-to-face interviews with key management officials. This approach is justified due to the absence of formalised documentation and as a result, it is imperative to assess that historical data on Quality Systems is seriously lacking at QPL. The field research outcome reveals that QPL’s management is experiencing serious doubts regarding the feasibility and practicality of the program’s implementation within a micro-manufacturing firm. This is the case primarily whenever the latter is facing limited financial and human resource capabilities such as at QPL. The research findings disclose that none of the four pre-requisites are present within this micro-firm. [...]
Table of Contents
- 1.0 INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Research Preamble
- 1.2 Dissertation Objectives
- 1.3 Overview of Quality Postform Limited (Malta) – A Case Study
- 1.4 Outline of the Dissertation's Structure
- 2. Literature Review
- 2.1 Chapter Introduction
- 2.2 Literature Review - Its Importance
- 2.3 From Quality To TQM - The On-Going Evolution
- 2.4 Defining Quality
- 2.5 Quality Control
- 2.6 Definition of TQM
- 2.7 Defining Micro-Businesses
- 2.8 Quality Management within Micro-enterprises - An Evaluation
- 2.9 Micro-Enterprises and QM Programmes – Barriers Encountered
- 2.10 TQM Programme Applications for Micro-Firms - Claimed Benefits
- 2.11 Quality - Cosby's Approach
- 2.12 Crosby's 14-Point Programme - Applied Examples
- 2.13 Pre-requisites for QM programmes to succeed
- 2.13.1 Defining a Programme
- 2.13.2 Defining a pre-requisite
- 2.14 Determining Pre-requisites for Quality Improvement Programmes
- 2.14.1 Management Commitment
- 2.14.2 Acknowledgement of a Quality Problem
- 2.14.3 The Organisation's Readiness to Embrace Change
- 2.14.4 Readiness of suppliers to support the quality programme
- 2.15 Chapter Summary
- 3. Methodology
- 3.1 Chapter Introduction
- 3.2 Primary and Secondary Data
- 3.3 Qualitative and Quantitative Data
- 3.4 Data Collection
- 3.4.1 Sampling
- 3.4.2 Secondary Data
- 3.4.3 Interviews
- 3.4.4 Questionnaires
- 3.5 Interview Classification
- 3.5.1 Standardised Interviews
- 3.5.2 Non-Standardised Interviews
- 3.6 Non-Standardised Interviews verses Standardised Interviews
- 3.7 The Quality of Interaction Throughout the Interview Process
- 3.8 Interviewing Skills
- 3.9 Interview Guide
- 3.10 Ethical Issues
- 3.11 The Case Study: Validity and Generalisability
- 3.12 Chapter Summary
- 4. Findings and Analysis
Objectives and Key Themes
This dissertation aims to evaluate the practicality of implementing Crosby's 14-step Quality Improvement Programme within a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm. It investigates the challenges and benefits of applying such a program in this specific context.
- Applicability of Crosby's 14-step program to micro-manufacturing firms.
- Challenges and barriers to implementing quality management programs in micro-enterprises.
- Analysis of the specific context of a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of different data collection methods.
- Identification of pre-requisites for successful quality improvement program implementation.
Chapter Summaries
1.0 INTRODUCTION: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the dissertation, outlining the research's preamble, objectives, and a case study overview of Quality Postform Limited, a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm. It establishes the context and scope of the research, introducing Crosby's 14-step program as the central framework for evaluation. The chapter concludes with an outline of the dissertation's structure, guiding the reader through the subsequent sections. The introduction clearly defines the research problem and lays out a roadmap for the entire investigation.
2. Literature Review: This chapter provides a comprehensive review of existing literature on quality management, total quality management (TQM), and their application within micro-enterprises. It critically examines different definitions of quality, quality control, and TQM, exploring their evolution and relevance to micro-businesses. The chapter delves into the specific challenges and barriers that micro-firms face in adopting QM programs, contrasting these with the claimed benefits. It features a detailed exploration of Crosby's 14-step program, including applied examples and pre-requisites for successful implementation. The analysis considers management commitment, acknowledgement of quality problems, organizational readiness for change, and supplier support as crucial factors. The chapter thoroughly synthesizes existing knowledge, creating a strong foundation for the subsequent empirical investigation.
3. Methodology: This chapter meticulously details the research methodology employed in the dissertation. It explains the rationale behind choosing primary and secondary data, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the specific data collection methods including sampling techniques, interviews, and questionnaires. The chapter differentiates between standardized and non-standardized interviews, discussing the advantages and limitations of each. It elaborates on the importance of maintaining high-quality interaction during the interview process and emphasizes the necessary interviewing skills. Ethical considerations and the validity and generalizability of the case study are thoroughly addressed, ensuring the rigor and reliability of the research findings. The chapter provides a transparent and comprehensive account of the research design.
Keywords
Crosby's 14-step Quality Improvement Programme, Quality Management, Total Quality Management (TQM), Micro-manufacturing, Micro-enterprises, Case Study, Malta, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Practicality, Barriers, Benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions about: A Dissertation Evaluating Crosby's 14-Step Quality Improvement Programme in a Maltese Micro-Manufacturing Firm
What is the main topic of this dissertation?
This dissertation evaluates the practicality of implementing Crosby's 14-step Quality Improvement Programme within a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm. It investigates the challenges and benefits of applying this program in a specific context, focusing on a case study of Quality Postform Limited (Malta).
What are the key objectives of the research?
The research aims to assess the applicability of Crosby's 14-step program to micro-manufacturing firms, analyze the challenges and barriers to implementing quality management programs in micro-enterprises, examine the specific context of a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm, evaluate the effectiveness of different data collection methods, and identify pre-requisites for successful quality improvement program implementation.
What are the key themes explored in the dissertation?
The key themes include the applicability of Crosby's 14-step program to micro-firms, challenges and barriers faced by micro-enterprises in adopting quality management programs, the specific context of a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm, and the identification of pre-requisites for successful quality improvement program implementation. The effectiveness of various data collection methods is also a significant theme.
What is included in the literature review chapter?
The literature review comprehensively explores quality management, total quality management (TQM), and their application in micro-enterprises. It examines definitions of quality, quality control, and TQM, analyzes the challenges and benefits for micro-firms adopting QM programs, and provides a detailed examination of Crosby's 14-step program, including its pre-requisites for successful implementation.
What methodology is used in the research?
The research employs both primary and secondary data, qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collection methods include sampling, interviews (standardized and non-standardized), and questionnaires. The chapter details the interview process, ethical considerations, and addresses the validity and generalizability of the case study.
What kind of data is collected and how?
The dissertation uses both primary (interviews and questionnaires) and secondary data. The interview section differentiates between standardized and non-standardized interviews, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each. Sampling techniques are also detailed.
What are the key findings and how are they analyzed?
The "Findings and Analysis" chapter presents the results of the research. While the provided text doesn't detail the specific findings, it's implied that the analysis will focus on the applicability and challenges of implementing Crosby's 14-step program in the chosen case study.
What are the keywords associated with this dissertation?
The keywords include Crosby's 14-step Quality Improvement Programme, Quality Management, Total Quality Management (TQM), Micro-manufacturing, Micro-enterprises, Case Study, Malta, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Practicality, Barriers, and Benefits.
What is the structure of the dissertation?
The dissertation is structured into four main parts: an introduction, a literature review, a methodology section, and a findings and analysis section. Each section is further divided into sub-sections as detailed in the table of contents.
What is the case study and its relevance?
The case study focuses on Quality Postform Limited, a Maltese micro-manufacturing firm. This specific context allows for a detailed examination of the challenges and benefits of implementing Crosby's 14-step program within a real-world micro-enterprise setting.
- Quote paper
- Edward de Brincat (Author), 2012, Evaluating the Practicality of Applying Crosby’s 14-step Quality Improvement Programme in a Maltese Micro-Manufacturing Firm, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/262919
