An empirical study of the ISO 9000 standards’ contribution towards total quality management

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an empirical study on the contribution of ISO 9000 standards towards total quality management (TQM). The paper is a continuation of the authors' research on the ISO 9000 standards effectiveness and capability as an entry key to TQM. The literature review of the above issue revealed the need for a formal empirical study to resolve the existing debate about the standards' long-term contribution and true value to ISO 9000-certified companies. For the purposes of this study, a TQM measurement instrument was developed and tested for its reliability and validity to measure TQM performance improvement in certified companies in Greek industry. This performance improvement was then used to test the basic research hypothesis:``Can ISO 9000 standards provide a good first step towards TQM?''. The results of the study are presented in eight basic TQM categories, showing the certified companies' performance improvement in the basic elements of each category, and revealing their strengths and weaknesses on their way to TQM.

Lean readiness – the case of the European pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

“…According to the academic literature, one of those factors is the ISO 9000 quality standards (Magd, 2006). In this regard, ISO 9000 is considered a valuable step towards continuous improvement initiatives such as TQM and LM (Al-Najem et al, 2013;Karthi et al, 2011;Gotzamani and Tsiotras, 2001;Sadiq Sohail and Boon Hoong, 2003;Idris et al, 1996;Magd, 2006). Indeed Magd (2006) alleged that ISO 9000 certification can serve as a way to achieve continuous improvement, and as a result LM.…”

“…Indeed Magd (2006) alleged that ISO 9000 certification can serve as a way to achieve continuous improvement, and as a result LM. However, there is no consensus in the existing literature regarding the degree to which those quality standards will contribute to a long-term quality assurance and a successful implementation of continuous improvement initiatives (Gotzamani and Tsiotras, 2001). …”

“…For example, some studies have suggested that ISO 9000 serves as a basis or supplement to the implementation of TQM (e.g. Gotzamani and Tsiotras, 2001;Magd, 2006;Escanciano et al, 2001). However, an opposite view is suggested by Sun (2000), who comments that ISO 9000 offers a limited platform to support the implementation of TQM and LM.…”

Quality assurance and satisfaction with their results: an application to the implementation of EN 9100 standard in the Spanish aerospace sector

“…However, it is also possible to find studies that point out that benefits are similar regardless of size; although in the smaller companies, it may take longer to obtain them (Rayner y Porter, 1991;Quazi y Padibjo, 1998;Briscoe et al, 2005). In some cases, benefits obtained by the smaller companies may even be superior, in view of the fact that their starting point as regards quality management often tends to be lower (Gotzamani and Tsiotras, 2001). Because of this, and since the studies that have concluded that the positive effects of implementing the ISO 9001 standard are similar, regardless of company size, are in a minority, we propose the following hypothesis:…”

Quality and safety systems for the port industry: empirical evidence for the main Greek ports

“…12 port authorities. The questionnaire design was in the lines of Gotzamani and Tsiotras [32], but with certain adaptations made during a preliminary pilot phase. The questionnaire comprises questions of closed type through a five-step Likert scale ranging from 1="total disagreement" to 5= "total agreement", so that those interviewed would express the degree of their agreement or disagreement.…”