Developing and validating critical success factors of TQM implementation in MSMEs of Punjab in India

Abstract

Manufacturing organisations are facing challenges due to growing competition to sustain themselves. Enhancing their quality and also quality of the products is absolutely essential to sustain growth. From an extensive review of the literature in the field of total quality management (TQM), eight critical success factors (top management commitment, customer focus, process management, continuous improvement, supplier quality management, employee participation, training, teamwork) and four outcome factors (customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, internal quality result, external quality results) of TQM implementation were identified. A questionnaire survey instrument was developed, reliability and validity of the questionnaire were tested. Data from 118 micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) related to manufacturing sector was analysed using structural equation modelling. Structure equation modelling was used to examine hypothesis. It was concluded finally that the many critical success factors of TQM are significantly related with outcome factors of TQM. Researchers will be able to use this instrument for developing quality management theory. Industrial practitioners will be able to use this instrument to evaluate their TQM implementation.