• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.56-69
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• 2005

There have been growing concerns about whether proper measures are in place to ensure the delivery of quality services and the operations in research and educational institutions. This paper describes various quality models and discusses their relevance into the total quality concepts and quality management systems (QMS) in education. It then illustrates how a QMS and the accompanied quality manual be developed in a research and educational institution using the Centre for Enterprise Research Integration (ERI) at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad as a case. Through personal interviews with the $Centre{\square}s$ personnel, views on the operations and determinants of the QMS were acquired. Results showed that the people's resistance to changes, conflicts on academic freedom, and difficulties on measuring performance were the obstacles to QMS implementation. People involvement and proper communication are determinants of QMS implementation. The system also rests on having a tailored quality manual that entails the documentation of processes and procedures for ascertaining the delivery of quality services and operations in the Centre. The development of quality manual is briefly described in the paper.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2005

There have been growing concerns about whether proper measures are in place to ensure the delivery of quality services and the operations in research and educational institutions. This paper describes various quality models and discusses their relevance into the total quality concepts and quality management systems (QMS) in education. It then illustrates how a QMS and the accompanied quality manual be developed in a research and educational institution using the Centre for Enterprise Research Integration (ERI) at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad as a case. Through personal interviews with the Centre's personnel, views on the operations and determinants of the QMS were acquired. Results showed that the people's resistance to changes, conflicts on academic freedom, and difficulties on measuring performance were the obstacles to QMS implementation. People involvement and proper communication are determinants of QMS implementation. The system also rests on having a tailored quality manual that entails the documentation of processes and procedures for ascertaining the delivery of quality services and operations in the Centre. The development of quality manual is briefly described in the paper.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.26-44
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• 2004

Distance Education is a non-traditional mode of training and can take many forms, one of which is the use of Computer Based Training (CBT). This paper reviews various quality assurance models for designing the delivery of programmes at the universities and other training institutions. It presents the findings of a CBT research that is currently being carried out at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of the West Indies, Trinidad. The significance of the research is discussed with particular emphasis on the influence of curricula sequencing on knowledge acquisition in learners of varying cognitive styles. The paper concludes that adherence to quality assurance principles could result in the enhanced performance of users of the CBT.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.11-22
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• 2007

Nowadays, the competitiveness of any organisations rests dominantly on how they can manage their performance, A host of performance variables such as quality, reliability, and efficiency are recognised as competitive priorities. This paper reviews the criteria and dimensions of performance measures, and discusses six core performance indicators in agribusiness operations with particular reference to the poultry/broiler farms. Besides, a holistic "Quality, Reliability and Efficiency" view of performance is proposed when developing measures for poultry agribusiness operations.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.190-203
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• 2005

This paper empirically determines the extent to which ISO 9001 certified small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were able to attain the eight quality management principles on which the ISO 9004:2000 Standard is based. It employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process approach in determining the percent weightings of these principles and the self-assessment questions which form part of the ISO 9004:2000 Standards. Of particular interest is a weakness of these enterprises in formulating policies addressing the needs and expectations of shareholders and the society in terms of the community and the public affected by the organisations or its products. This paper makes a contribution to the body of knowledge in the field of quality management in Trinidad and Tobago where such work is limited. It adds value by empirically measuring TQM implementation through determining the extent to which its criteria are implemented in ISO 9001 certified SMEs.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.98-106
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• 2006

Nowadays, agro-firms are confronted with competition from global suppliers in both domestic and export markets. Such competition in sustainable agro-operations is expected to intensify. The survival of these firms in developing countries urgently requires a significant transformation to be competitive. This paper discusses the rationale of adopting a national innovation (NI) approach from an industry-wide perspective. In order to attain sustainable agro-operations in developing countries, the approach stresses appropriate scientific and technological applications and effective linkages of technology transfer via the network between public and private institutions, universities and other research institutions. Central to this approach is the development of the agro-industrial sector whereby agri-chains are formed. An illustrated case of the NI approach is presented with respect to a small island developing state, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.89-105
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• 2004

Many researchers and practitioners have acknowledged the need to investigate the relationships amongst various criteria of implementing total quality management (TQM) in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMMEs). There is a need to have practical research methodologies that take cognisance of the peculiarities of SMMEs and impact on their quality management practices in developing countries. This paper presents the theoretical foundation of a proposed Generative Research Methodology and configures the specification of a TQM implementation framework in SMMEs. The methodology combines rigorous research approaches, builds theory based on the dynamics of the environment and the firms' characteristics and incorporates various TQM criteria into the design of the framework. It synchronises inductive and deductive research methods in three phases and uses various means to acquire empirical evidence and examine the dependent and independent variables of TQM implementation. It is anticipated that the methodology could help SMMEs to develop, analyse and evaluate the framework for attaining quality performance goals.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.204-215
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• 2005

This paper explores innovative manufacturing processes, which can be used to manufacture the national musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, the Musical Steel Drum or Steel Pan. The main manufacturing process used today is the manual hand-forming technique. In order to achieve more consistent and deeper formed components while maintaining the high quality of the instrument, it is proposed that the Marforming process and the Flow-forming process, an adaptation of the Spinforming process, be used more frequently in the future to replace the traditional Hand-forming method. In the traditional Spinforming technique material is pushed from the outer circumference of the metal disc to the center in progressive passes of the former. This results in a thinning of the outer region of the formed component with thickening of the center, however the opposite is required for the musical steel drum and by adapting the process the required strain distributions were achieved. Evaluation took the form of strain analyses of pre-formed steel drums and visual inspection of the quality of the surface finish. It was found that the Marformed components had the smallest range of strain values while the Spinformed components had the largest range.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.57-76
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• 2009

Although many adherents openly praise the importance of quality management practices (QMP) in organisations, others have identified significant costs and implementation obstacles. Some recent studies showed that QMP have failed due to the ignorance of quality cultures. How to improve the success rate of QMP in organisations has become a critical issue both in the academy and in practice. This paper discusses the common enablers of and cultural impacts on QMP. It explores the dimensions of national versus organisational culture, and identifies the main features of four quality culture models as advocated in the literature in relation to facilitating QMP in organisations. It was found that flat structures, decentralised functions, empowerment, flexibility, innovation, limited rules and regulations and teamwork favor the QMP implementation. For facilitating culture changes for QMP, values associated with low power distance, low uncertainty avoidance and collectivism would have to be nurtured. Further research is needed to incorporate the findings and develop a practical quality culture approach for real applications in industry.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.35-45
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• 2007

This paper describes the development of a scale for measuring top management commitment towards continual quality performance improvement in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A set of self-assessment questions of the ISO 9004: 2000 Standard was used to assess the adoption status of quality management practices. This paper investigates the inter-item reliability and the content validity of the Quality Management Principles Scale (QMPS) in an integrated improvement process in SMEs. An empirical study was conducted to acquire senior management views on the use of the QMPS in manufacturing sectors in Trinidad and Tobago. Based on 328 responses from 110 SMEs, statistical software packages were used to analyse the empirical data and determine the reliability and validity of the QMPS. The paper contributes to develop a self-assessment scale that can be used to measure top management commitment. It is anticipated that the findings would provide practical insights for evaluating the levels of maturity on performance improvement in SMEs.