The purposes of this dissertation are (1) to define the various components of Just-In-Time/Total Quality Control (JIT/TQC), (2) to assess the differences between JIT and non-JIT firms with respect to measures of human resource development and management, and (3) to assess the relationships between the management commitment and employee involvement components of JIT/TQC and measures of manufacturing performance. A conceptual model is developed depicting the relationships among the major components of JIT/TQC and both management commitment and employee involvement are hypothesized to be critical to a successful implementation and improved manufacturing performance. The criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award are examined and category four, Human Resource Development and Management, is found to cover the same activities as the combined employee involvement and management commitment components of JIT/TQC. A survey is constructed to collect data similar to that required for the Human Resource Development and Management category of the Baldrige application. In addition, for those firms that indicate they have started a JIT/TQC implementation, data is collected for current measures of manufacturing performance and measures prior to the implementation of JIT/TQC. Surveys are sent to Directors of Manufacturing in companies with SIC code 36 (electrical and electronic equipment). Chi square and Hotelling's T$\sp2$ tests are used to test for differences between JIT and non-JIT firms with respect to measures of management commitment to workers and employee involvement. Statistically significant differences are found in the use of teams, suggestion systems, recognition programs, multi-function workers, and in the types of training provided. The results of multiple regression analysis indicate significant relationships between changes in manufacturing performance, in the areas of quality, flexibility, and cost, and variables representing the categories of timing of JIT/TQC implementation, employee involvement, and management commitment. Overall, the research results support the relationships hypothesized in the conceptual model.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-8979 |
| Date | 01 January 1994 |
| Creators | Pariseau, Susan Eiss |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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