An empirical investigation of critical TQM factors using exploratory factor analysis

SUMMARY

In this article, exploratory factor analysis was applied to a set of 50 quality management practices, synthesized from Deming's philosophy, to determine whether they can be summarized or explained by a smaller number of meaningful factors. Eight meaningful factors were extracted that accounted for 53.6% of the total variation among Deming's 50 quality management practices. Industry practitioners can use these factors in concert with other critical quality management practices to help them in their TQM initiatives. Researchers can also use these factors to build structural models linking such factors to various organizational performance measures.