Total quality muddle?

Companies implement TQM initiatives because they seem to be a “fast track” to improved performance and profitability. TQM is also customer driven because as more and more firms receive accreditation they prefer to deal only with similarly accredited companies. However, the TQM failure rate in manufacturing remains high and raises questions about the whole TQM rationale and culture. What is the underlying ethos of TQM and why does its implementation so often fail?