Elements Of Quality Management Research Articles

Laboratory Quality Management Requirements of Engineering at the Polytechnics Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia

Engineering lab is instrumental in the technical fields of study. Continuity of learning theories in the classroom will be applied in the laboratory for understanding and exposure to engineering skills. This paper is a study that outlines the main aspects of quality management in the engineering laboratory (lab) to provide learning and teaching facilities in the labs. The roles and accountability of the lab management ensure appropriate management processes, preparation and execution of engineering laboratory work for students. A finding from the literature study raises important issues relating to laboratory quality management and should be addressed by the laboratory management personnel. Soundness of management of an engineering lab, depends on the relationship between management and network department, laboratory management, teaching staff and students. The key element of quality management is the management of engineering laboratory documentation, safety, environment and management tools.

Water Quality Management in Japan: Recent Developments and Challenges for Integration

ABSTRACTJapanese water quality management is evolving toward the more integrated management of water resources by adapting to the changes in society, such as changes in public perceptions on water and the environment; diversification of water usage; and the state of water quality itself. Mitigation of water pollution and conservation of the watershed environment and ecosystem services have begun to be recognized as important elements of water quality management. In that sense, water quality management in Japan is now transforming from management of water quality to management of the wider water environment. Although there have been signs of integration of the quantity and quality aspects of water management, this paper concludes that opportunities to promote integrated management should be further explored in Japan and that local governments must play a key role in the promotion of integrated water resources management. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Modelling the Implications of Quality Management Elements on Strategic Flexibility

This paper presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the implications of a quality management (QM) initiative on strategic flexibility. Our study defines flexibility from a strategic approach and examines the extent to which, why, and how the triggering factors of strategic flexibility are related to QM elements. The hypotheses put forward are tested in an empirical study carried out on a sample of Spanish firms, using structural equation models. The results demonstrate the positive effect of adopting an integral QM initiative on enhancing strategic flexibility. QM enhances strategic flexibility more effectively when it is introduced comprehensively rather than in a piecemeal fashion. A series of practices linked to the application of a QM initiative are outlined, which managers can use to improve strategic flexibility. The approach used in the study can be applied to analyse other antecedents of flexibility and to propose possible studies that consider QM as an antecedent of other organisational variables.

ISO 9000 certification and construction project performance: The Malaysian experience

Purpose This paper explores the relationship between an ISO 9000 certified quality management system (QMS) and elements of performance in construction project environments. Design/methodology/approach A survey based approach is used to collect data from project managers working in the Malaysian construction sector in both ISO 9000 certified and non-certified organisations. Three elements of performance are explored: project management (PM) practices, financial management (FM) practices and Project Success. The Project Management Performance Assessment model (PMPA) (Bryde, 2003) is used as the framework for assessing PM Practices. 336 completed questionnaires are analysed, with a group of 73 being from ISO 9000 certified companies (a response rate of 48.3%) and a group of 262 being from non-certified companies (response rate = 32.6%). MANOVA are used to explore differences in levels of performance between the two groups. Findings Overall there is significance difference in mean scores at the 5% level in respect of each of the PM and FM Practice elements of performance, indicating that ISO 9000 certified companies have enhanced levels of performance in their project environments compared to those in non-certified companies. The two exceptions are the PM Practice related to establishing partnerships and managing resources and the FM Practice related to allowing for inflation and price escalations. The results also indicate that ISO 9000 certification has a positive moderating effect on the casual relationship between PM Practices and Project Success. Based on the survey results a Project Management Performance Assessment for Construction (PMPAC) model is developed, which extends the PMPA to include performance enablers linked to financial management activities. Research limitations/implications The survey focuses on the construction sector in Malaysia and further work is required to see if the findings are applicable to other countries and also to other business sectors beyond the construction sector. Originality/value The research reported in this paper is original in that prior research into the link of ISO 9000 certification and dimensions of organizational performance has not explicitly focused on project environments. The research findings provide evidence that those seeking to enhance their project performance could gain benefits from developing a QMS and seeking ISO 9000 accreditation. However the finding also indicate that an approach to performance management based solely on establishing a certified QMS may have its limitations in terms of establishing processes for managing the relationships on a project through partnership approaches and in dealing with uncertainty in the external environment, such as price fluctuations. The PMPAC model presented in this paper provides a framework for those working in construction project environments to ensure their project management systems incorporate the key activities that enable better performance.

Schockraummanagement – Übergang von der Präklinik zur Klinik

The trauma resuscitation room in emergency departments is an important link between preclinical treatment and clinical management of patients with multiple trauma. For the trauma team (Trauma Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Radiology) to respond adequately, a high degree of training and standardisation is required. With arrival of the patient, the trauma team starts with priority orientated resuscitation. After life-threatening problems have been resolved, the diagnostic work is started with plain films of the chest and the pelvis and FAST. Additional plain films are made depending on further suspected injuries. Reassessment of the patient is done and necessary emergency interventions are performed before the patient is transferred to the radiology department for organ focused computed tomography. CT has gained importance in the early diagnostic phase of trauma care. The development of Multislice Helical Computed Tomography (MSCT) has led to substantial refinement in the diagnostic work-up. For many institutions it has become an essential part of the imaging of the traumatized patient. Delayed and insufficient medical interventions have a high impact on negative patient outcome. Anticipating and dealing with critical situations might reduce preventable errors in the treatment process and can be achieved by implementation of an algorithm-based structured workflow. In that context some elements of quality management are well established in clinical practice. In the presented paper we describe the effort that needs to be done to provide optimal care for multiple trauma patients after admission to a designed trauma centre.

Prozessorientierung als Instrument strategischer Unternehmensführung und integrierter Managementsysteme

The concept of general process orientation as an instrument of organisation development is the core principle of quality management philosophy, i.e. the learning organisation. Accordingly, prestigious quality awards and certification systems focus on process configuration and continual improvement. In German health care organisations, particularly in hospitals, this general process orientation has not been widely implemented yet - despite enormous change dynamics and the requirements of both quality and economic efficiency of health care processes. But based on a consistent process architecture that considers key processes as well as management and support processes, the strategy of excellent health service provision including quality, safety and transparency can be realised in daily operative work. The core elements of quality (e.g., evidence-based medicine), patient safety and risk management, environmental management, health and safety at work can be embedded in daily health care processes as an integrated management system (the "all in one system" principle). Sustainable advantages and benefits for patients, staff, and the organisation will result: stable, high-quality, efficient, and indicator-based health care processes. Hospitals with their broad variety of complex health care procedures should now exploit the full potential of total process orientation.

Prozessoptimierung im Krankenhaus Vom Prozess zur Betriebsorganisation

Apart from a multidimensional quality definition and the understanding of quality as a company-wide challenge, a third essential element of quality management is prevention. Thus, company quality policy has to be prevention-oriented and requires both customer and process orientation as important prerequisites. Process orientation especially focuses on the critical analyses of work flows as a condition for identifying early intervention options which, in turn, may influence the result. Developing a business organisation requires the definition of criteria for space planning, room assignment and room integration in consideration of both medical and economic aspects and the architectural concept. Specific experiences will be demonstrated as a case study using the example of a new building in the midst of the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital in Dresden, the Diagnostic Centre for Internal Medicine and Neurology. The hospital management placed an order to develop a sustainable as well as feasible business organisation for all the different departments. The idea was to create a medical centre where maximum use was made of all planned spaces and resources on the basis of target processes which had to be defined and agreed upon with all the persons concerned. In a next step all the personal, space and operational resources required were assigned. The success of management in all industries, including the health care sector, crucially depends on the translation of ideas into practice, among them the critical factor of sustainability. In this context, the support by the management as a role model, a formal frame for the respective project group and the definition of controlling via defined indicators have special importance. The example of the Diagnostic Centre for Internal Medicine and Neurology demonstrates that the result of changed processes may release a cultural change where competition can be replaced by cooperation step by step.

Total Quality Management Principles that Influence the Integration of Information and Communications Technology into the Classroom

In light of the recent focus on applications of Total Quality Management (TQM) elements to bring about change in educational settings, a survey instrument was developed to examine teachers' perceptions of the degree to which TQM principles have the potential to influence their personal integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into the classroom. The purpose of this study is to field-test this instrument which measures 70 Singapore secondary school teachers' perceptions on the impact of Deming's fourteen principles for quality in organization on ICT implementation and integration. The results show that teachers perceived that by and large TQM principles, in particular constant training and upgrading as well as leadership responsibility, could positively influence ICT implementation and integration. The findings suggest that in order to promote quality ICT integration on the part of teachers, adequate training in addition to strong leadership needs to be provided. This is to our knowledge the first study which attempts to apply the principles of TQM in the context of integration of ICT in education.

A Relational Goal-Oriented Model of Optimal Service Delivery to Children and Families

ABSTRACT.This article presents a Relational Goal-Oriented Model of Service Delivery to Children with physical or mental health difficulties and their families. This research-informed and practice-relevant model provides a broad understanding of what effective service provision entails and requires from practitioners and service organizations. The model provides a framework by which to improve the design and delivery of services. It highlights the importance of six major elements of quality care and management: overarching goals; desired outcomes; fundamental needs; relational processes; approaches, worldviews, and priorities; and strategies by which to bring about desired outcomes. The model emphasizes the fundamental role of client–practitioner and practitioner–organization relationships and goal-related aspects of practice. Implications for research to improve our understanding of the psychosocial aspects of human service delivery are discussed, as well as implications for managerial and clinical practice.

Schockraummanagement – Prozessqualität durch klinische Behandlungspfade, Qualitätszirkel und Standard Operating Procedures

In each hospital the trauma resuscitation room in emergency departments is one of the areas with the highest rate of critical incidents. Delayed and insufficient medical interventions have a high impact on negative patient outcomes. Anticipating and dealing with critical situations might reduce preventable errors in the treatment process. This can be achieved by implementing an algorithm-based structured work flow. In this context some elements of quality management are well-established in clinical practice. In the present study we describe the implementation of a clinical pathway and an interdisciplinary quality circle to improve management of the trauma patient.

Interprofessional and transdisciplinary teamwork in health care

The article focuses on the need for and the characteristics and positive consequences of interdisciplinary teamwork in health care. Interprofessional collaboration is an important element in total quality management. Factors that determine the success of team work are described, such as a management that promotes openness and an administrative organization that promotes interdisciplinary consultation. Other factors have to do with leadership, shared goals and values, meeting management and planning skills, communication, and also the (degree of) knowledge and the (quality of) perception of competences of other health care workers. The shared care plan is stressed as an important tool. In this, the joint planning of goals for intervention and care is essential. Health care workers with different professional knowledge and background have to harmonize their intervention plan according to the competences and goal settings of the other team members. The core of effective interprofessional teamwork is the presence of interprofessional competences such as these. A brief description of the components and performance criteria of the competence of interprofessional collaboration is given.

Are TQM principles supporting innovation in the Portuguese footwear industry?

The relationship between total quality management (TQM) and innovation is complex. Literature suggests that conflicting arguments exist and that the impact of TQM on innovation depends both on the specific quality management elements under consideration and on the type of innovation. In this research, our goal is to analyse at what extent the introduction of TQM is indeed supporting innovation in the Portuguese footwear industry. Since this is a mature industry, whose traditional competitive base is disappearing and where familiar to medium units dominate, our emphasis is on the study of the organisational requirements to adopt constant changes in process technology. This study is based on empirical data collected from a set of firms by means of a survey instrument, especially developed with this purpose, after an extended contact with the industry where case studies and interviews were conducted with carefully selected organisations and sector experts. Findings give support to the view that in fact TQM principles have a positive association with the adoption of technological innovation. Yet, both the prevalence of features of the mechanistic model and the lack of maturity of most initiatives in the Portuguese footwear firms restrains the role of TQM in supporting innovation.

A framework for quality management practices in strategic alliances

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the role of quality management (QM) practices in the success of strategic alliances.Design/methodology/approachThrough a review of the literature, a conceptual model employing a relational view of inter‐organizational competitive advantage is proposed, which attempts to address the concept of quality management in strategic alliances and networks.FindingsTrust and co‐operative learning have emerged as critical factors that affect the success of strategic alliances. The proposed model, while integrating elements of quality management and strategic alliances, determines alliance success and alliance satisfaction as the outcomes of strategic alliances. Several propositions have been developed to address the relationship between different constructs in the model. The effects of trust and co‐operative learning on alliance performance are discussed, and key areas for research are identified.Practical implicationsCompanies can achieve a higher level of performance and satisfaction from alliances.Originality/valueWhile previous research on quality management has been focused on the implementation of quality management within a firm, by extending the concept of quality management to strategic alliances this paper expands quality management implementation beyond the traditional view of quality.

Top management commitment and overall engineering education excellence

PurposeThere has been an exponential proliferation of higher engineering educational institutions in India. The purpose of this paper is to seek to investigate students' perceptions of the level of Commitment of Top Management and Leadership (CTML) and Education Service Design and Delivery (ESDD) in Government Run Engineering Colleges (GREC), Privately Funded Engineering Colleges (PFEC) and Privately Funded Deemed Universities (PFDU) in India. The paper also strives to find out the significant predictors of Overall Engineering Education Excellence (OEEE).Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model has been developed linking Total Quality Management (TQM) elements and OEEE. The data were obtained from a survey of 992 students of higher engineering institutions in South India and analyzed using SPSS.FindingsSignificant differences among GREC, PFEC and PFDU were noticed in several TQM dimensions under study, and also in OEEE. The findings show correlation between the seven TQM variables and OEEE. CTML made a significant contribution toward attaining OEEE. Campus Facilities and Congenial Learning Environment also contributed greatly to OEEE.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is limited to engineering institutions in a particular geographical area of India. Related study with a global perspective can be taken up in the future.Practical implicationsThe comparative analysis of higher engineering institutions as well as the results of the investigative study of the impact of TQM on overall engineering educational excellence will prove useful to academic leadership.Originality/valueThe research framework presented in this paper is valuable to the top managements of higher engineering institutions.

Klinische Behandlungspfade

Clinical pathways are directions for standardised treatment processes for different diseases or procedures in a hospital. These pathways are developed within a team of several professions and are used as order and procedure sheets. Experiences with this element of quality management are limited in Germany. The development and the implementation process of 15 pathways in a urological department are described. A clinical pathway for female incontinence surgery (suburethral tape) is presented as an example. The effects of the pathways are evaluated on a routine basis. Seventy-two percent of the patients were treated according to a clinical pathway. The advantages of clinical pathways are a better structuring and transparency of medical processes, a reduction of documentation, improvements in medical education and savings in time, hospital stay of the patients and costs. Expenses for pharmaceuticals were significantly reduced in connection with development of the pathways. The implementation of clinical pathways is a complex but rewarding project. It can be expected that clinical pathways will be rapidly distributed in the near future and that they will contribute to improvements of health care quality.

A Systemic and Contingent View of the Basic Elements of Quality Management

This paper presents a structural model that considers the interrelationships between the social and technical components of a Quality Management (QM) initiative. In this model, leadership appears as the starting point of any initiative intended to implement QM. Using this model, the influence of each of these two subsystems (social and technical) on customer results is evaluated. At the same time, the external and internal effects of QM elements on business results are estimated. Finally, we analyse the existence of significant differences in the degree of QM introduction as well as the intensity of the causal effects considered by the model depending on two contingent factors: sector and size.

Development of a standard for the organization of the interlaboratory comparisons in microbiology of food

The ILAC G13 Guide and the ISO IEC Guide 43-1 are the common, general and horizontal bases for accreditation of providers of proficiency testing and interlaboratory comparisons used by several accreditation bodies. Despite their widespread use, these guides omit specific technical requirements, and sometimes even elements of quality management, clearly defined for the organization of proficiency-testing schemes for microbiology of food. The Sub-Committee 9 “Microbiology of food” of ISO TC34 has created a working group (WG4) to establish a standard detailing such specific requirements for microbiology of food. This technical standard will describe those specific requirements of proficiency testing which organizers of proficiency-testing schemes and any subcontractors must satisfy in addition to the requirements of the ILAC G13 Guide and the ISO IEC Guide 43-1 to achieve accreditation or other recognition.

Behandlungspfade in Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

Implementing evidence-based clinical guidelines by means of clinical pathways is one of the key elements of continuous quality management at the University Hospital of Marburg. This paper explains how clinical pathways for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were developed. Based upon a review of existing guidelines and literature, optimal standards of care were defined. Step-by-step analysis of the process of care and results of a questionnaire were used to describe the actual processes. A problem-orientated comparison of the actual and the optimal process of care was the basis for developing these pathways. A consensus was achieved with all persons involved in the respective process of care taking into consideration local resources as well as barriers. The most important decisions and interventions were defined and presented as a patient-oriented process. The lack of explicit "how to do it"-recommendations of the guidelines for the entire care processes required specific, locally tailored adaptations. Potentials for improvement were identified in the following areas: transfer of patients, consultation, information and coordination within the team, and diagnosis of suicide risk. The pathways include care-oriented algorithms, checklists and assignments of responsibility. The development of clinical pathways as part of quality management and transsectoral integrated care in psychiatry and psychotherapy is feasible. The concept presented incorporates the potential of increasing transparency, efficiency and efficacy of care, and of improving satisfaction of those involved. It offers psychiatric hospitals the chance to guarantee optimal quality of care in face of increasing workload and costs.

Quality management education over the Internet

We describe a program for continuing education in “Quality management and metrology”. It may be followed by class lectures, by videoconference or by individual distance learning over the Internet. An important feature for students who attend classes is visits to selected institutions for demonstrations of quality management in practice. For students using distance learning, multimedia presentations containing a total of 2 h of video and supporting documentation is the alternative to the visits. The program is aimed at personnel from all fields, and its emphasis is on the generality of quality principles, attitudes and motivation for quality thinking, measurements in quality work, as well as the use of system audits and other elements of quality management in related fields.

Quality management practices in Hong Kong industries

In order to maintain competitiveness in a global market, more Hong Kong manufacturers are continuing the pursuit of quality management after being certified to ISO 9000. They strive for other quality management practices/approaches for continuous improvement such as the total quality management (TQM). Successful implementation of the TQM generates impressive performance measures such as improved product quality, increased productivity, improved cycle time, increased customer satisfaction, improved supplier performance, stronger employee relations, and increased return on investment and market share, etc. In view of this demand, organizations need to understand and study the important issues that incorporate them in successfully implementing the TQM‐based quality systems. A survey with questions associated with the seven core elements of strategic quality management identified by Tummala et al. was conducted in 2001 in order to investigate the current quality management practices towards the implementation of TQM in Hong Kong electronics and toys products manufacturing industries. The results of the survey from both industries are compared and the key findings are summarized in this paper.