Abstract

SOUSA-MENDES, Glauco Henrique de; GOMES-SALGADO, Eduardo  and  MORO-FERRARI, Bruno Enrico. Prioritization of TQM practices in Brazilian medical device SMEs using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Dyna rev.fac.nac.minas [online]. 2016, vol.83, n.197, pp.194-202. ISSN 0012-7353.  https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v83n197.52205.

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.

Keywords : Total Quality Management; Analytical Hierarchy Process; medical device companies and small and medium enterprises.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )