An empirical study of just‐in‐time and total quality management principles implementation in manufacturing firms in the USA

Analyses, through a nationwide empirical survey of US companies, the effects of JIT and TQM strategies and offers important guidelines for JIT/TQM programme co‐ordinators that might be helpful during the implementation process. Shows that while companies can benefit from implementation of JIT alone in some areas of manufacturing practices, a good TQM system must be in place both at the company’s and at the supplier’s end. Also shows that the implementation of both JIT and TQM strategies contributes most to increased productivity, employee involvement, management commitment, supplier participation, enhancement in quality and reduction in costs. Even firms that implement one of the two strategies, JIT or TQM, reflect increased productivity and improved quality when compared with the firms that implement none. Finally, indicates that firms which implement both strategies have 40 per cent more quality certifications than the rest.