Business Factors Affecting TQM in Manufacturing Supply Chains

This report investigates the factors affecting Total Quality Management (TQM) within the supply chains of manufacturing firms. The research begins with an introduction to the problem, highlighting the importance of TQM and its impact on supply chain management (SCM). The aims and objectives are outlined, focusing on defining TQM and SCM, identifying barriers to effective SCM, and exploring how the integration of TQM and SCM can enhance organizational performance. The methodology includes a literature review, data collection from online sources, and interviews with manufacturing managers and supply chain partners. The report also discusses secondary data and data analysis methods, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The conclusion emphasizes TQM as an approach for continuous improvement and organizational sustainability.

Research in Business
Factors affecting total quality management in supply chain of manufacturing
firms.
Student Name
[Date]

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Table of Contents
1.
Problem statement/ Introduction...............................................................................................2
2. Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................................3
3. A brief methodology..............................................................................................................3
4. Secondary data and data analysis method..............................................................................4
5. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5

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1. Problem statement/ Introduction
Organisations always seek ways through which they are able to sustain competitive
position for which they adopt methods to have efficient total quality management (TQM)
processes (Vanichchinchaia & Igel, 2010). Zahari & Zakuan (2016) defines TQM as an
operating approach in management philosophy which aims to exceed current and future
prospects of stakeholders by continuous improvement in every processes, service and goods.
Despite implementing effective supply chain management (SCM), many manufacturing firms
find themselves with inefficient results and therefore search for solutions that can improve
SCM tasks to increase productivity (Chang, 2009). Talib, Rahman & Qureshi (2011) says that
previous research although have suggested TQM as a plausible process for SCM
improvements, prior research suggest implementing TQM solutions that can possibly overlap
SCM management techniques.
This overlap, as said by Aized (2012) can either damage or enhance firm’s current
SCM processes which have been fulfilling organisational requirements. Furthermore,
depending upon relationships with third party logistics and supply partners, TQM
implementation can affect SCM processes negatively or positively. Sadikoglu & Olcay
(2014) further emphasises on significant affects of TQM over performance outcomes and
reveals that obstacles faced by manufacturing firms like inappropriate structure and employee
involvement recommends firms to implement TQM only after recognising its improvement
variables. Ardianto & Natsir (2014) claims that SCM models focus on factors like customer
service level but neglects factors like cost and quality components and therefore suggest
integration of TQM with SCM for bringing positive outcomes. Kim, Son & Kim (2016)
therefore suggest that to bring opportunities for business practitioners, TQM shall be
integrated with SCM to maximise benefits and achieve organisational success.

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2. Aims and Objectives
This research proposal aims to bring in front various factors affecting TQM in SCM
practices of manufacturing firms to establish an integrated approach to TQM, SCM and
logistics for enhancing organisational performance. This forms objectives like:
 Defining TQM and SCM for developing conceptual framework through literature
review
 To find reasons behind TQM barriers for establishing effective SCM in
manufacturing firms.
 To find out how integration of TQM and SCM can help in improving organisational
performance
 Develop strategies that can remove barriers for enabling TQM in every level of
organisations.
3. A brief methodology
To investigate and access reasons behind how TQM affects SCM in manufacturing
firms, this paper proposes mix methodology.
 Literature synopsis: This will give access to present issue found in TQM in supply
chain systems especially concerning manufacturing unit. This may include economic
condition, factors affecting TQM, integration of TQM and SCM benefits and models
that can eliminate barriers to effective TQM (Loke, Downe, Sambasivan, & Khalid,
2012).
 Data collection: All the secondary data will be collected from online sources like
academic journals, conference papers, books and company reports.
 Interview: This paper intends to make interactions with managers of manufacturing
forms along with its supply chain partners. Combinedly, all the data will help in

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developing strategies to establish effective TQM in supply chain systems for gaining
competitive advantage.
4. Secondary data and data analysis method
This paper will focus upon data from manufacturing units supply chain and overall
organisations development database that is available in online media. Particularly, data
collected will include questionaries’ made in interviews, quality and delivery dependability of
products measured in terms of finance, operations and marketing.
To develop effective strategies and find benefits behind integration of TQM with
SCM, both quantitative and qualitative approach will be utilised. Qualitative data collected
from survey and interview made will create a framework to assist decision makers in
pursuing SCM after making close study of factors related to TQM. Quantitative data will be
further converted into graphical and chart format to giving appropriate numerical
presentation.
5. Conclusion
TQM is an ethical and holistic approach of firms that helps in continuous development
of products and services that involves stakeholders to satisfy customers and improve
organisational performance and sustainability ( Carpenter, Bauer, & Erdogan, 2012). The
above report analysed TQM affects in SCM and how effective strategies can remove barriers
to it.
References

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Aized, T. (2012). Total Quality Management and Six Sigma . Croatia : InTech .
Ardianto, Y. T., & Natsir, M. (2014). Hybrid Strategies Study : Total Quality Management
Practices and Supply Chain Management as a New Antesenden to Improve the
Performance of Manufacturing in East Java. European Journal of Business and
Management, 06(30), 1-11.
Carpenter, M., Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2012). Management Principles. Creative
Commons.
Chang, G. (2009). Total Quality Management in Supply Chain. International Business
Research, 02(02), 82-85.
Kim, H. J., Son, J., & Kim, S. W. (2016). Strategy for Improving Efficiency of Supply Chain
Quality Management in Buyer-Supplier Dyads: The Suppliers’ Perspective.
Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2016, 1-11.
Loke, S. P., Downe, A. G., Sambasivan, M., & Khalid, K. (2012). A structural Approach To
Integrating Total Quality Management And Knowledge Management With Supply
Chain Learning. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 13(04), 776-800.
Sadikoglu , E., & Olcay, H. (2014). The Effects of Total Quality Management Practices on
Performance and the Reasons of and the Barriers to TQM Practices in Turkey.
Advances in Decision Sciences, 2014, 1-17.
Talib, F., Rahman, Z., & Qureshi, M. N. (2011). A study of total quality management and
supply chain management practices. International Journal of Productivity and
Performance Management, 60(03), 268-288.

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Vanichchinchaia, A., & Igel, B. (2010). The impact of total quality management on supply
chain management and firm's supply performance. International Journal of
Production Research, 49(11), 3405-3424.
Zahari, M. K., & Zakuan, N. (2016). The Effects of Total Quality Management on The
Employee Performance in Malaysian Manufacturing Industry. Proceedings of
Academics World 49 th International Conference, 1-6.