The integration of quality management and continuous improvement methodologies with management systems

For organisations to be successful, the use of well-structured management systems (MSs), quality management (QM) approach and methodologies for continuous improvement (CI) are all essential. Total quality management (TQM) has been a dominant management concept for CI utilising Deming's concepts of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a widely-accepted methodology for CI considered among most modern in the 2000s. Recently, different MSs have gained more attention as they form critical infrastructure for improving and controlling different operating areas of any organisation. In many industries, CI methodologies and MSs are separately implemented, either formally or informally. The lack of their proper integration is one of the main reasons why lots of implementation efforts of CI fail, since it ensures alignment of activities and provides industry with competitive advantage. Thus, the need and benefits for formulating such integration of QM and CI with a comprehensive MS are discussed in this study.