Exploring quality models applied to small and medium enterprises

Quality can be defined as the “never-ending improvement of a firm’s extended process” (Goh, 2000). The decision to adopt a quality model (MBNQA, EFQM) may be a way to increase a company’s value but there are also shortcomings with these models. They are expensive, and do not consider the real needs an SME, because they were design for large companies. According to Dandekar et al. (2012) a quality model for an SME should be simple, systematic, easy to understand, outlined and definitely providing a planning tool for its implementation. The use of a quality model will give the structure that an ISO certified SME should accomplish. It will identify the spread of TQM applicability on how wide TQM could apply it to different fractions and environmental factors that it needs to change. These changes will make SMEs successfully implement quality and TQM in particular. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.