Testing the impact of integrating TQM and DFM on the ability of small to medium size firms to respond to their customer needs

Competing on the basis of time and quality has become the norm since the early 1990s, because cost is no longer the only driving force for competition. This paradigm shift will continue at even a faster rate in the 21st century. Organizations embracing time as a competitive advantage are agile and learning organizations. They always initiate change and are always ready for the challenges that come with it. In this paper, we examine the impact of two of the Time-Based Technologies, hereafter TBTs, on the ability of small to medium size firms to respond to the needs of their customers. In the last seven years or so, Youssef has been studying the impact of TBTs on the operations of manufacturing firms. However, no distinction was made based on the size of the firm. This study utilizes the same database that Youssef used, but as applied only to small to medium size firms. The results of regression analysis showed that the individual as well as the combined effects of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) have a positive impact on the ability of small to medium size firms to respond to their customer needs. These results have many implications for academics and practitioners.