Abstract:
This study investigates the impact of the joint TQM and JIT approach on the
performance of manufacturing organisations. The final objective is the development of a
Joint TQM&JIT Implementation Model, based on the results of the investigation. The
Model will contain a series of activities and operations that will lead to process and
product improvement, based on the principles of the joint implementation approach.
Many studies and researches have been conducted in order to investigate and clarify the
details and the potential benefits of each system. However, few studies looked at the
operations that are necessary for a successful joint TQM and JIT approach; and even if
they did it, they did not analyse the manufacturing process systematically. The present
study attempts to give an answer to this problem and, moreover, to produce a
systematic, analytical, and clear implementation plan.
The literature review and the industrial survey showed that there is a very close link
between TQM and JIT; what is missing is a detailed implementation plan. The
TQM&JIT Model tries to satisfy the musts and the wants of every manufacturing
organisation which wishes to be competitive and world-class in the contemporary
demanding markets, using the quality of the products and the low manufacturing cost as
weapons. Furthermore, the Model details the sequence of the activities that should be
followed in order to get completely beneficial results. It determines the production areas
that should be improved, but also determines the role of everyone within the company
towards that objective. The flowchart that presents the network of the activities is very
simple and very clear, and this is perhaps the major advantage of the Joint TQM&JIT
Implementation Model. A series of performance measures for each step of the Model has
also been developed, in order to ensure the completion of each implementation stage.
