Analysis of use of Methods and Quality Management Tools in a Group of Production Enterprises

Abstract

The publication presents the results of research on the scope of practical use of available methods and tools of quality management by enterprises. The analysis was based on surveys conducted at the Production Management Institute of the Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Technology of the Częstochowa University of Technology. The presented study applies only to the information collected so far as the research work commenced is still being continued. Currently, data (correctly completed questionnaires) has been collected from fifty one small, medium and large production companies located primarily in the Śląskie and Łódzkie region. Both the organizations surveyed for the needs of this project and the cases cited in the literature indicate that the group of the most commonly used tools and methods is quite limited and in a sense comes down to the most known. This situation may partly result from the specifics of the industry and the nature of production. In addition, providing questionnaire response suggestions (as examples, the most frequently used methods and techniques) may have influenced the choices made by the respondents. At the same time, in some cases, low awareness or insufficient substantive knowledge may have contributed to the belief among the respondents that the techniques are implemented in the enterprise while in reality these techniques have never been used. All remarks and observations noticed at this stage of the research will be taken into account in subsequent analyzes.