Year

2000

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Faculty of Engineering

Abstract

In order to assist companies to achieve manufacturing excellence, this study develops an integrated model combining TQM, JIT and TPM, and provides guidelines for the implementation of the model and for measuring company performance. The model incorporates a series of WCM practices and performance measurement indicators. In order to validate the Integrated Model, hypotheses are developed and examined using data from a nationally-based mail survey. In addition, a case study is conducted covering five plants, to understand the contextual factors behind company practices. It is confirmed that plants implementing TQM, JIT and TPM concurrently outperform those which implement only one or two of the methods, and there is no difference in performance among plants using either one or two of the methods. Further investigation on the causes of difference in. performance reveals that, in addition to the simultaneous implementation of the three methods, the establishment of targets leads to better performance. However, there is insufficient evidence to claim that involving employees in target setting has an effect on performance. Better performance may result from greater extent of use of practices. It is confirmed that plants adopting TQM, JIT and TPM have higher application of practices than those which do not, and that there is positive correlation between the extent of application of practices and the level of performance. This implies that the adoption of TQM, JIT and TPM leads to better performance only when it is accompanied by the application of practices. Moreover, synergy in concurrent use of practices is also confirmed: plants applying TQM, JIT and TPM practices outperfonn those which adequately apply one or two set(s) of the core practices, given adequate use of infrastructure practices.

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Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.