QUALITY ISSUES FOR KOREAN MANUFACTURING-INDUSTRY

Rising wages and an appreciating exchange rate currency forced Korean exporters of manufactured goods to try to move up-market at the end of the 1980s. This involves improving both product specification and con formance to standards. The Korean government is actively promoting imp roved quality systems in manufacturing as a means of enhancing competi tiveness. Large Korean firms have much in their favour in this area - particularly their technological competence and a well-educated labour force. However, poor industrial relations and the poor quality of sma ller supplier firms are obstacles which need to be overcome if Korea i s to compete with advanced industrial countries in terms of quality.