Integrated management system facilitates quality improvement in small and medium sized enterprises

Some companies pursued for ISO9000 and TQM did not appear to have reaped the real benefits of the systems. This is particularly so for small and medium sized companies in Hong Kong. Some major local companies impose ISO9000 certification as part of the tendering requirement hence small and medium enterprises (SMEs) react to meet such customer’s tendering requirement. Some SMEs might not be able to maintain the system after certification, hence unable to reap the real advantages of ISO9000. In order to improve the functionality of these systems to their full extent, the authors propose to reinstate the foundation in quality, such as the proper implementation of Quality Control Circles (QCC) and 5-S philosophies. The integrated system of 5-S and QCC philosophies highlights the importance of a well organised physical layout and people factor that direct towards ultimate result for a business. It is therefore beneficial to develop and implement an integrated approach to quality improvement. A new type of organisational behaviour should be developed to meet the blended approach to quality.