The paper reports the views and activities of a sample of system certification bodies with respect to the integration of quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety management systems. It is pointed out that such bodies have not been active in the promotion...

This paper relates the main findings of a literature review of integrated management systems (IMS). In general, integration has been discussed in the literature dealing with quality, environmental, and health and safety management. The need for an IMS has arisen as a result of the decisions of...

Plots a path from a base of ISO 9000 series system registration to the effective use of self‐assessment against the criteria of an excellence model (e.g. the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model or the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) model). Both the ISO 9000...

The paper reports a study into set‐up time reduction and mistake proofing methods in a small company involved in the machining of precision components in small batches with high variety for the aerospace industry. The company has made some set‐up reductions mainly using work study related...

The paper reports the main findings of an evaluation of four separate quality costing methods which have been trialed in an organisation manufacturing flavourings for the food and drink industry. It was found that the semi‐structured departmental method was the most suitable and a pilot study...

The area of business process management (BPM) is a relatively new field and there is little academic literature on the subject. This paper critically examines the literature to pinpoint BPM definitions, approaches and principles. A study is reported of a business unit of a “world class”...

This paper examines two research questions. First, is a re‐engineered company a suitable platform for the subsequent application of TQM principles? Second, is BPR an appropriate means to transform an organisation operating along traditional lines into one which is managed using TQM principles?...

Examines a range of reasons relating to ISO 9000 series certification and the implementation of total quality management (TQM). Identifies five different types of strategies in relation to the approach taken to ISO 9000 series certification and defines their key characteristics. Also identifies...

This paper presents the results of a state of the art postal questionnaire survey from 132 manufacturing companies based in the UK. Also outlined are the trends in the profile of quality circle programmes of some 40 companies over a period of around 12 months. The main trends include circle...

The author investigate the effect which the delivery performance of a company's suppliers have upon the company's own delivery assurance and reputation. Alternative methods of evaluating supplier delivery performance are studied. An analysis is made of the extent to which the suppliers' poor...