Quality management and supplier development

Central to the concept of T.Q.M. is the nature of the relationships which organisations develop with their suppliers. As organisations improve their own internal efficiency there becomes a need to look externally to their suppliers in order to seek competitive advantage. Previous work on supplier development has focused mainly on the automotive industry. This research is based primarily on the quality management systems and supplier relationships which have been developed at J.Barbour and Sons Ltd, an international clothing company whose name is synonymous with Quality. The research indicates that the organisational structure and culture of companies within the U.K. does not readily support all the principles of T.Q.M. More evidence needs to be sought regarding the benefits to the organisation. Characteristics associated with various types of supplier relationships are defined i.e traditional and partnership. Dependent upon the type of product supplied and by whom, organisations may wish to develop their suppliers to a greater or lesser degree. As a result of the research, recommendations are then given for organisations implementing T.Q.M. or Supplier Development programmes in order to improve the quality of their goods or services.