Prioritization of TQM practices in Brazilian medical device SMEs using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

The purpose of this article is to prioritize Total Quality Management (TQM) practices and examine their relative importance in TQM implementation in medical device small and medium enterprises (SME) using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Mathematical modeling was the research method adopted in this article. The choice of AHP was based on the need to acquire knowledge from different companies and prioritize the most important TQM practices. Some implications are highlighted. Two strategic factors (Quality Management System and Quality Planning) and one tactical factor (Process Management) are strongly correlated and indicated by experts as having the major importance. Finally, The AHP method developed in the present study was shown to be useful for prioritizing practices relating to the implementation of TQM in medical device companies. The results can provide useful information to medical device managers to work upon the main practices in order to improve TQM performance.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sousa-Mendes,Glauco Henrique de, Gomes-Salgado,Eduardo, Moro-Ferrari,Bruno Enrico
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2016
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0012-73532016000300026
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