The diversity of quality management in Chinese companies

Abstract

The business environment surrounding companies has been drastically changed due to the progress of globalization and information technology. The existence of Chinese companies called the World Factory is becoming more and more important. To summarize the previous studies on quality management, normative quality management methods such as SQC, TQC, TQM and ISO 9000 certification have attracted attention. Although there are not a few studies on quality management of Chinese companies from various perspectives, to the best of the author’s knowledge, no systematic analysis of the stylistic characteristics of the timing and implementation methods of quality management has been found in previous studies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical clarification of the characteristics of quality management in Chinese companies, by focusing on the timing and implementation methods of quality management, through case studies of several Chinese companies.

As a result, it became clear that quality management in Chinese companies diverse in timing and implementation method. There are four types of timing of quality management in Chinese companies: Pre・Post-focused quality management, Random quality management, Pre-focused quality management and Post-focused quality management. There are four types of implementation method of quality management in Chinese companies: Equipment・person-centered quality management, Equipment-centered quality management, Person-centered quality management, and Consequential quality management. Thus, diversity was found in quality management of Chinese companies. In other words, quality management of Chinese companies is more flexible than introducing normative quality management methods such as SQC, TQC, TQM, and ISO 9000 certification