The use of quality management tools and techniques: A study in plastic injection moulding manufacture

There is considerable available information on the application and use of individual quality management tools and techniques, but empirical evidence is lacking. This paper reports a study that has examined how four companies have implemented tools and techniques and explored the relationship between the use of tools and techniques and the level of total quality management (TQM) adoption. The four companies studied were part of a single holding company involved in the production of plastic injection mouldings, mainly for original equipment manufacturers; they had been involved with TQM for differing lengths of time. Among the main findings was the lack of a relationship between commitment to TQM and the tools and techniques employed, and the tools and techniques in use did not seem to relate to the companies' experience with TQM. It was also found that senior management commitment, education and training, teamwork and employee involvement have had a major impact on the level of TQM adoption. © IMechE 2001.