Investigating Basic Quality Control (QC) Tools Implementation in SMEs: Results from a Pilot SurveyPages 1-19
Abstract:
This research investigates the implementation of basic Quality Control (QC) tools in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), aiming to explore their utilization, application extent, associated benefits and effectiveness in problem resolution. A pilot survey was conducted among 14 SMEs to gather data on the implementation of QC tools. Data was collected from a total of 14 companies. Out of these, 4 companies were visited in person, while data from the remaining 10 companies was collected through an online Google Form. A pilot survey among 14 SMEs investigated the implementation of 7 QC tools, revealing varied levels of utilization. Check Sheets, Cause-and-Effect Diagrams and Control Charts were universally adopted, while Histograms and other tools were less frequently used. QC tools were primarily applied daily, with significant usage in production, R&D and QA/QC departments. Respondents highlighted the tools' effectiveness in enhancing process efficiency, product quality, and customer satisfaction, with 64.3% believing that these tools address up to 80% of quality problems. Key barriers to achieving 95% problem resolution included insufficient resources and lack of training. The main research limitations of this survey include the small sample size of only 14 SMEs, which may not provide a comprehensive representation of all SMEs. The study's limitations include potential biases associated with self-reported data and the restricted scope of the pilot survey, which may not fully represent the diverse practices of QC tool implementation across all SMEs. This research contributes original insights into the implementation of QC tools in SMEs, providing a comprehensive examination of utilization, application extent, associated benefits, and effectiveness in problem resolution. The study fills a gap in existing literature by offering empirical evidence and practical implications for enhancing quality management practices in SMEs.
Keywords: 7 Quality control tools, Survey, Small and medium enterprises, Customer satisfaction, Implementation
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