Empirical Evaluation of Total Quality Management as a Strategic Tool for Gaining Competitive Advantage in Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on Empirical Evaluation of Total Quality Management as a strategic tool for gaining competitive advantage in manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The study covered five manufacturing companies. Purposive sampling method was employed to draw a total sample of 92 respondents, distributed among the five companies as follows: Company A–22; Company B–20; Company C–18; Company D–18; and Company E–14. Likert Format Structured questionnaire was employed to elicit information from the respondents. Out of the 92 questionnaire issued, 86 were properly filled and returned and upon which the analyses were based. The indices that measure successful implementation of TQM in organizations which include absence of defectiveness in products/services; elimination of wastes in all organizational resources; ensuring that organization’s processes are simple and devoid of complexities or tortuousness; ensuring that qualified and competent employees are engaged and retained over time in the organization; and ensuring that work environment is perfectly conducive and congenial to the workforce for maximum contribution were the  variables of interest studied. These variables were all confirmed by the study as useful agents for attracting competitive advantage to organizations. The study, therefore, concludes that TQM is a powerful and strong strategic tool for gaining competitive advantage by organizations. The study recommends as follows: that organizational or institutional leaders/managers should embrace and institute TQM in their respective organizations with particular focus on (a) ensuring that employees are properly motivated through adequate remuneration, continuous training and provision of conducive environment for optimum performance; (b) ensuring elimination of wastes in the use of all organizational resources; (c) ensuring that products/services are without defectiveness as a guarantee for customers to have full value/utility for pathing with their hard earned money in patronage for organizations goods/services.