Perception and Development of Total Quality Management in Small Manufacturers: An Exploratory Study in China

摘要

The economic achievement of China during the last two decades has been impressive. The manufacturing industry has made the most significant contribution to the spectacular economic growth in China (Lee and Yu 1997). However, the Chinese manufacturing industry is now in a critical stage of its development. The business environment in global markets is very turbulent, reflecting keen competition both in price and in product advantages. Manufacturers in the developed nations provide high-quality products at reasonably low prices, while other developing countries' manufacturers are challenging Chinese firms seriously by producing the similar products at a lesser cost. Furthermore, consumers from all over the world are becoming more quality-conscious. The new wave of quality awareness and emphasis has given a significant impact on business operations in the world. These recent developments force Chinese firms to consider quality management practices to enhance the quality of their products. China must move away from its reactive, low-cost-based strategy that relies on cheap labor. Chinese firms must develop a new competitive edge based on quality.