Motivation and efficiency of quality management systems implementation: a study of Lithuanian organizations

The article presents the results of the study about the motives and efficiency of Quality Management System (hereafter, Quality System-QS) implementation in Lithuanian companies that have obtained ISO 9000 certificates. Thirty-one Lithuanian companies (241 of all certified companies at the time of the research) have presented the answers to the prepared questionnaire. The main purpose of the questionnaire was to find out why Lithuanian companies seek the implementation and certification of QS in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9000 series of standards and what has changed after the QS implementation. Furthermore the results of the research were compared with similar studies performed in the other European countries. The performed research revealed that the implementation of QS mostly results in the benefits of an intangible nature that are internal to the company. In addition, although the main reasons to start implementing QS are the expectations of the external advantages, the implementation results mostly in the increase of internal benefits such as an improvement in the definition of the responsibilities and obligations of the employees, a decrease in the nonconformities, better communication among the employees, and increased efficiency.