Title: Investment in quality management practices and their impact on operational performance in cotton spinning industry

Authors: T. Hussain, N. Ahmad, N.S. Butt

Addresses: Institute of Quality and Technology Management, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan. ' Institute of Quality and Technology Management, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan. ' Institute of Quality and Technology Management, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract: In this paper, investment made in quality management practices and process management techniques adopted by the cotton spinning industries of Pakistan, have been studied. The relationship between investment approaches and performance indicators has been also investigated. A statistical investigation methodology was adopted and data were collected through industrial survey, to gain the managers| perceptions regarding their organisations investment priorities and performance indicators. A meticulous statistical investigation revealed that industry had great diversity in the way of investing in quality management practices; secondly, investment trends in predictor variables had strong impact on organisations| performance. It was concluded that mills with high investment in quality management achieved better operational performance than the other mills. The primary data was used for analysis and such study has not previously conducted in Pakistan. This paper will help the quality management researchers and practitioners to explore the monetary side of quality improvement issues.

Keywords: performance indicators; cotton spinning industry; investment trends; technology; training; quality management; process management; Pakistan; organisational performance; quality improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQI.2009.026462

International Journal of Quality and Innovation, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.37 - 52

Published online: 11 Jun 2009 *

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