Evaluation of TQM in Japanese industries and validation of a self‐assessment questionnaire

Provides empirical support for TQM reviewing and improvement. Evaluates 190 companies’ performance that have or have not used TQM in Japan. Cross‐sectional survey methodology is employed. Thus, seven categories with 80 key elements regarding American MBNQA and ten equations are examined. The main conclusions are that, although TQM remains helpful for Japanese business performance, globalization has created a highly competitive environment where companies using only TQM (or another single management system) will not be able to survive in the long term; and that the examined self‐assessment questionnaire, although far from 100 per cent perfect, is a reliable and valid instrument for calculating business performance.