A study of quality tools and techniques employed in Northern Malaysian manufacturing companies: preliminary

Abstract

This study focuses on the application of quality tools and techniques employed in manufacturing companies in northern Malaysia. Due to the 1998 economic downturn, many companies were forced to close. In Perlis, there are currently only nine manufacturing companies operating actively. The literature has shown that, quality tools and techniques will help management recognise the symptoms, root causes, issues and problems that affect process and product quality, which ultimately lead to organisation survival. Hence, this study is important. The study used questionnaires and structured interviews as its main instruments of data collection. The preliminary findings of this study show the quality tools and techniques are indeed being used but each with varying degrees. The certified quality standard companies tend to use more quality tools and techniques compare to uncertified quality standard company.