Victor E. Sower

Cost of quality usage and its relationship to quality system maturity

Purpose – The purposes of this study are to examine the relationship between the distribution of quality costs and the level of maturity of an organizations quality system, to assess the extent to which effective COQ systems and maturing quality systems affect organization performance, and to determine why some organizations do not utilize COQ systems.Design/methodology/approach – A survey instrument was developed to determine the distribution of total quality cost among the four ASQ categories. The instrument also assesses the maturity of the organizations quality system using the ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9004‐2000 performance maturity level classification system. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between quality costs and quality system maturity.Findings – External failure costs were found to decline as a percentage of total cost of quality (COQ) as an organizations quality system matures. Total COQ was found to increase as an organization moved from a very low level of quality system m...

Relationships among market orientation, JIT, TQM, and agility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adoption of a market orientation (MO) coupled with implementation of just‐in‐time (JIT), total quality management (TQM), and agile improvement programs within manufacturing organizations from a macro perspective using systems theory as the theoretical underpinning. From a systems perspective, this research focuses on MO and its direct relationships with JIT, TQM, and agile manufacturing (AM) and subsequent impact on operational and logistics performance (LP).Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 104 manufacturing managers, supervisors, and quality professionals and analyzed using a path analysis methodology.Findings – MO directly and positively impacts JIT, TQM, and AM. JIT positively and directly impacts TQM which in turn positively and directly impacts AM. AM positively and directly impacts both organizational and LP.Research limitations/implications – Although the sample size is large enough to support path analysis, it is not o...

A comprehensive model for implementing total quality management in higher education

Based on an extensive review of literature on total quality management (TQM) in higher education, proposes a specific definition of “customer” and develops a comprehensive TQM model that comprises eight steps. The definition of “customer” and the TQM model developed can serve as a basic foundation for colleges and universities to follow when implementing TQM at their respective institutions. Recommends a list of things to do and problems to look for when implementing a TQM project.

Impact of RFID on manufacturing effectiveness and efficiency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology utilization in manufacturing firms on manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness.Design/methodology/approach – Using systems theory as a basis, a RFID utilization and outcome(s) performance model was developed from the literature. Data from a sample of 155 manufacturers were collected and the model was assessed using a structural equation methodology.Findings – Findings indicate that utilization of RFID technology leads to improved manufacturing efficiency and manufacturing effectiveness. Improvements in efficiency lead directly to improved organizational performance, and improvements in effectiveness lead directly to improved supply chain performance.Research limitations/implications – Data were collected during the growth stage of RFID technology adoption and were only collected from firms in the manufacturing sector. Results should be interpreted with these limitations in mind.Practical impl...

RFID utilization and information sharing: the impact on supply chain performance

Purpose – The papers aim is to theorize and assess a structural model that incorporates radio frequency identification (RFID) technology utilization and supply chain information sharing as antecedents to supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approach – Data from a sample of 155 manufacturing sector and service sector organizations were collected and the model was assessed following a structural equation methodology.Findings – RFID technology utilization does not directly impact supply chain performance. Adoption of RFID technology, however, leads to improved information sharing among supply chain members, which in turn leads to improved supply chain performance.Research limitations/implications – RFID technology utilization is in the introductory and growth stages of the technology utilization life cycle. Interpretation of the results should be tempered in light of this early stage of adoption.Practical implications – Practitioners can expect improved customer satisfaction through the implementatio...

Impact of supply chain linkages on supply chain performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of supply chain linkages on supply chain performance (SCP). It aims to define and describe linkage constructs for power, benefits, and risk reduction and develop multi‐item scales for their measurement. It also aims to assess the relationships of the linkages with SCP.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 145 manufacturing and services sector managers are surveyed. The measurement scales are assessed for reliability and validity and further assessed within a measurement model context. Study hypotheses are then tested using a multiple regression approach.Findings – Results for the combined sample indicate that power, benefits, and risk reduction linkages positively and significantly impact SCP. Power is identified as the dominant linkage for manufacturers, and risk reduction as the most important within the services sector.Practical implications – The key to effective supply chain management is the ability to establish long‐term, strategic rel...

Implementing TQM in the health care sector.

This article examines the issue of implementing TQM/CQI programs in the health care industry by grouping the prescriptive literature into four research streams. Based on the literature, a strategic programming model for implementing TQM/CQI in the health care industry is suggested. Finally, issues relating to TQM in the health care sector, which need to be addressed within each research stream in the future, are provided

There is More to Quality than Continuous Improvement: Listening to Plato

Continuous improvement programs that view quality in a quantitative manner are adequate for incremental improvement of processes, products, and services in an existing technological environment. However, breakthrough improvement that results in paradigm..

Classics in production and operations management

Contends that most collections of classic works are the result, primarily, of subjective criteria applied by one editor or a small group of editors. Provides a list of authors and classic works in the field of production and operations management (POM) arrived at by applying more objective criteria. Maintains that this listing was developed, not from the preferences of the researchers, but rather on the basis of results of a survey of those persons most involved in the field: POM educators and scholars.

Impact of RFID technology utilization on operational performance

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to focus on the most basic of relationships – the impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology utilization on operational performance. An RFID‐performance model is theorized and tested with data collected from a sample of manufacturing organizations using a structural equation methodology. The structural model incorporating RFID technology utilization as antecedent to operational performance is assessed.Design/methodology/approach – Survey data from a sample of 122 manufacturing sector organizations were collected and the model was assessed following a structural equation methodology.Findings – The measurement scales assess as unidimensional, reliable, and valid. The theorized structural model fits the data relatively well. RFID technology utilization directly and positively impacts operational performance.Research limitations/implications – Interpretation of the results should be tempered in light of this early stage of adoption of RFID technology i...