Title: State-of-the-art on linkage between quality, quality costs and productivity

Authors: D.J. Sumanth, D.P.S. Arora

Addresses: Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Director, Productivity Research Group (PRG), University of Miami, 269, McArthur Building, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA. ' tDoctora1 Student, Department of Management, School of Business Administration, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

Abstract: This paper reviews the state-of-the-art on the importance of quality, quality costs, and the linkage between quality and productivity. A summary is given of research developments in the discussion of quality costs, in chronological order, using the |state- of-the-art matrix| (SAM). The paper also identifies the critical issues for research in relating quality costs to productivity, and is intended to stimulate thinking in quality-productivity linkages. Such an understanding is essential to maintain both quality- and cost- competitiveness among products and services. A synthesis of the review of the literature is a starting point for researchers and practitioners to prevent themselves from |reinventing the wheel|.

Keywords: competitiveness; productivity; product quality; service quality; quality costs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1992.036505

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1992 Vol.7 No.2, pp.150 - 169

Published online: 04 Nov 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article