Quality management practices and operational performance: empirical evidence for Spanish industry

Progressive implantation of the ideas and techniques related to the concept of quality management is perhaps the most patent expression of the change and innovation which has taken place in organizations in recent years. Companies aim to increase their competitive advantage by improving operational performance. Or is this the case? The research is based on information obtained from a wide sample of industrial plants ( n = 965), employing more than 50 workers and belonging to all sectors of the manufacturing industry in Spain. After a thorough review of the literature relevant to this issue, a series of hypotheses is tested using logit models. Multiple regression analysis is applied in order to ascertain which dimension of the quality management practices has the greatest effect. The results are consistent with those of most of the studies carried out to date and demonstrate a significant relationship between the level of implementation of quality management practices and improvement in operational performance in terms of cost, quality and flexibility. Quality management practices related to product design and development, together with human resource practices, are the most significant predictors of operational performance.