A system dynamics approach for improving efficiency of total quality management (TQM)

Abstract

This paper investigates a system dynamics model to evaluate efficiency of Total Quality Management (TQM) for the enterprise. Previous studies reveal that, quality efforts, information symmetry, the gap between performance and the inferences from enterprise affect Total Quality Management Index (TQMI). Some factors such as advertisement, cultural values, economic development, supply chain management and education affect information symmetry and other factors such as customer satisfaction, society, human resources, quality management, quality educations and management expectations can improve quality. Also the gap between desirable and actual level of customer satisfaction, vendor satisfaction and human resource satisfaction can decrease TQMI. Hence the objective of this paper is to develop a total modeling approach using the concept of System Dynamic by applying the Vensim PLE version to simulate different decision making policies. To find proper actions by which the firm can achieve his objectives, the TQMI can be calculated. Then the proper action can be driven by the decision makers.