Quality management and plant success: An empirical study of Canadian and Australian manufacturers

Based on data collected from 1299 Canadian and 165 Australian manufacturing plants, this paper examines the link between quality management practices and plant success. Plant success was measured by using 22 different performance measures and based on this information the most successful (MS) and the least successful (LS) plants were identified. The paper compares Canadian and Australian plants as well as MS plants and LS plants in their use of quality management techniques, quality responsibilities and training for skills. Practices that distinguish MS plants from LS plants are identified and some implications for managers are presented.