From TQM to business excellence

The value of TQM is revisited, including the relationship with corporate strategy and the four pillars of TQM. The Japanese TQM experience is put under close scrutiny, which leads to the need for a TQM model. A model called TQMEX, standing for TQM EXcellence Model, has been developed based on sound TQM practices. Further to a previous survey conducted on 180 UK firms, another questionnaire survey was conducted based on 16 each UK and Japanese firms. The result of the survey highlights the similarity and difference between the two countries in the practices of TQM. Some open-end questions are also used to illustrate the potential and problems of their TQM movement. Finally, a world-wide TQM movement towards business excellence is predicted and the way the TQMEX model can contribute is proposed.