Case Studies Is Management Commitment to Quality Just “ A Given ” ?

Management at six factories in the UK which had received awards for their manufacturing excellence were interviewed about their TQM programmes. The aim of these interviews was to discuss the TQM initiatives and, in particular, to gauge the degree and nature of the management commitment required to make these successful. What emerged was an indication of the emphasis that managers must place on becoming personally involved if TQM is to be successful. Four common dimensions of management commitment were identified in the approaches seen across the six factories. These were the time and effort invested, emphasis on clear goals and organisations, management’s manufacturing expertise, and a strong focus on employees (training and team work). Although this study is based only on six case studies, the topic of commitment is an important one with significant implications for management. It is also an area which is ripe for further, detailed investigation.