Competitive manufacturing: Combining total quality with advanced technology

Abstract Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) brought about a considerable impact on user organizations. Its main benefits seem to be in areas such as flexibility to manufacture products of various batch sizes and differing degrees of complexity, the integration of activities and the effective flow of information. Total Quality Management (TQM) on the other hand is a fairly recent phenomena which is gradually transforming the competitive criteria of organizations in business, commerce and the public sector. This paper will argue that TQM plays a prominent role in organizations who have adopted a positive approach in their AMT implementation strategy and where AMT projects were not introduced solely for local or economic benefits. The paper will also discuss that in cases where AMT was brought in as a direct replacement for old equipment, TQM tends to have little visibility, since the practices of ‘Business as usual’ are still inherent. The paper concludes by presenting an effective model of AMT implementation which is compatible with the philosophy of TQM and its principles.