The growth stage model of quality information systems – an example of manmade fibre industry

Abstract

This study focused on a man-made fibre industry to explore the quality information systems (QISs) development in an enterprise and to construct a QIS growth stage model. Empirical analyses based on the data collected from a series of quality promotion projects spanned 67 months. Several quality performance measurement indicators, namely quality cost indicator (QCI), defect rate, zero defect rate (ZDR), and defect class, were defined and applied to identify the characteristics of each stage. A five-stage QIS growth model, comprising Planning, Control, Integration, Extension, and Maturity Stages, was developed. During the planning stage, the QIS was to provide quality reports and subsequently integrate the QIS with the ISO-9000 system at the control stage; the integration stage focused on the integration of the QIS and TQM; at the extension stage, the QIS was extended to material processing; and the maturity stage emphasised the integration of the QIS with the enterprise’s internal and external information systems. The advance from one stage to the next witnessed sharp decreases in the QCI or severity of defect, or sharp increases in the ZDR. The results can serve as a reference for enterprises that are developing QISs to efficiently develop or improve the functions of QISs and to optimise QIS performance for quality application.

Keywords:

• total quality management
• quality information systems
• growth stage model

ORCID

Chun-Nan Lin http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1833-256X