AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY OF JUST-IN-TIME AND TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES IMPLEMENTATION IN MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THE USA

Analyses, through a nationwide empirical survey of US companies, the e ffects of JIT and TQM strategies and offers important guidelines for J IT/TQM programme co-ordinators that might be helpful during the implem entation process. Shows that while companies can benefit from implemen tation of JIT alone in some areas of manufacturing practices, a good T QM system must be in place both at the company's and at the supplier's end. Also shows that the implementation of both JIT and TQM strategie s contributes most to increased productivity, employee involvement, ma nagement commitment, supplier participation, enhancement in quality an d reduction in costs. Even firms that implement one of the two strateg ies, JIT or TQM, reflect increased productivity and improved quality w hen compared with the firms that implement none. Finally indicates tha t firms which implement both strategies have 40% more quality certific ations than the rest.