A hierarchical model for quality management systems in global organizations

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the operations of the quality management systems (QMS) in multinational companies, and develop a framework for classifying the QMS features based on the global operational and marketing structures arising from their expansion process. This paper is based on doctoral research conducted at the Department of Statistics, University of Haifa, Israel in 2007–2015. Design/methodology/approach This study used the innovative approach of adopting a systems perspective in analyzing the operation of a global QMS. In total 18 multinational companies at different levels of global expansion were studied in depth using observations, longitudinal studies, content analyses and depth interviews. Findings The result of this study is the global hierarchical model (GHM) that presents a classification of representative global operational and marketing structures deriving from the expansion process of multinational companies, and the extrapolated features of the respective global QMS. Practical implications This classification serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying the proper globalization level of a QMS, thereby helping plan global quality strategy and identifying the steps necessary for its effective implementation. Originality/value This research seeks to fill a lacuna in the field of global quality system development with regard to modes of competition and challenge. Integration of strategic, operational and marketing rationales into the QMS’s processes augments the functional level of management and supports the development of a strategy for global quality management that is derived from and supports the company’s global strategy.

Global Quality Management System (G-QMS) in Systems of Systems (SoS) – Aspects of Definition, Structure and Model

“…The findings reported by Bashan & Notea [4] suggest multiple conflicts and a lack of clarity regarding the integrative management of the various quality systems within a corporate group, highlighting the need to plan relevant integration mechanisms for quality functions. Such integration mechanisms are meant to ensure that the different quality systems within a multinational company will be mutually connected and function as part of a single organizational entity, in order to reduce failures and ensure quality across global processes.…”

“…ISO 9004, which provides guidelines which expand and deepen the requirements for QMS, promotes the use of System Maturity by introducing, in an appendix, a five-level maturity model. Its detailed extension to the entire set of guidelines allows the reference to Systemic Maturity, while this tool is used as a reference in the current study [4]. Moreover, other international standards for QMS such as the sectorial standards are in development in accordance with this trend.…”

Globalization, quality and systems thinking: integrating global quality Management and a systems view

“…Quality management system (QMS) operations in multinational companies were analyzed by Bashan and Notea (2018) . The framework that they developed classified QMS features which were based on the global structures arising from expansion processes They also present two models: a derivative one for assessing the maturity level of QMS and a hierarchical model for the global maturity of a multinational organization.…”

The Link between Business Process Management and Quality Management

“…As it can be seen, in the context of this fourth paradigm, special attention is paid to processes. Recent research has already addressed the philosophy of global quality management, which also emphasizes the need for inter-organizational coordination and process management (Bashan and Notea 2018).…”