Q & Q

Quality Management and Qualification Needs Analysis

Brief description

Q&Q is a finished project funded by the first generation of the European Commission's Programme "Leonardo da Vinci". A research network examined how quality management is implemented in SMEs in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Analysis was focused on profiles of quality-related skill demands on staff as well as current training areas in the companies in order to work out recommendations for the vocational training in Europe.

Activities

The survey has intended to identify the needs and tasks of vocational training in a developing company practice. Other than quantitative surveys of the introduction of standardised systems and techniques of quality management, the underlying investigation therefore was focused on the concrete implementation practice of quality management and on the training practice of small and medium-sized enterprises. Therefore, expert interviews with managers and, as intermediate step of the analysis, individual-company evaluation were chosen as methodology of the investigation. Expert interviews with executives in marketing, process planning and human resources in each company should allow to identify in company practice both function-specifically and cross-functionally the tasks and difficulties in the implementation of quality management in small and medium-sized enterprises. Evaluation in company case studies should allow to identify in company practice impacts of quality management on human resources, requirements and measures of personnel development. The research results are two sector studies.

Metalworking industry:   Food-processing industry: The study is based on the survey of 34 SMEs which have been evaluated in case studies. There have been surveyed: 6 companies in the Federal Republic of Germany 4 companies in Finland 6 companies in Greece 4 companies in Ireland 4 companies in Portugal 6 companies in Sweden 4 companies in the United Kingdom The study is based on the survey of 33 SMEs which have been evaluated in case studies. There have been surveyed: 5 companies in the Federal Republic of Germany 4 companies in Finland 5 companies in Greece 5 companies in Ireland 3 companies in Portugal 5 companies in Sweden 6 companies in the United Kingdom A total of 94 experts was interviewed in these companies. 32 were marketing managers, 34 production managers, 28 personnel managers.   A total of 90 experts was interviewed in these companies. 28 were marketing managers, 33 production managers, 29 personnel managers.

Outcomes

The results from this project are available as books:

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Johannes Köper; Hans Jürgen Zaremba:
Quality Management and Qualification Needs 1
-Quality and Personnel Concepts of SMEs in Europe-

Heidelberg 2000,
ISBN 3-7908-1261-7

Abstract:
A research network has examined how quality management is implemented in small and medium sized enterprises in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. This book presents the survey results as two sector studies. Analysed are competitive and specialisation tendencies of the sectors and company concepts of "Quality" and "Personnel" including current profiles of quality-related skill demands on staff as well as current training areas in the companies.
Special objectives are:

• Anticipation of qualification needs for preventive vocational training strategies
• Documentation of good practice and typical barriers as support for practitioners within SMEs and training bodies

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Johannes Köper; Hans Jürgen Zaremba (Eds.):
Quality Management and Qualification Needs 2
-Towards Quality Capability of Companies and Employees in Europe-

Heidelberg 2000,
ISBN 3-7908-1262-5

Abstract:
A research network has examined how quality management is implemented in small and medium sized enterprises in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
This book presents conclusions including three parts:

• Results deriving from the sector studies
• Scientific contributions of network partners
• Action-oriented dialogue documenting comments of key actors in vocational training from the participating countries
Special objectives are
• Support of quality-oriented development of SMEs and their staff
• Support of quality-oriented development of vocational education and training
• Description of implementation requirement including regional aspects

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European framework

The surveys and analyses were conducted by a research network with the aim of working out recommendations for the innovation of vocational training in Europe.

Network

Institute of Knowledge Transfer(IfW), University of Bremen Cooperation University - Chamber of Labour (BIWA), Bremen, Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB), Berlin Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli, Helsinki University of Technology National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) Centre for Quality & Services Management, University College Dublin (UCD) Centre for Interdisciplinary Economic Studies (CIDEC), Lisbon College of Applied Engineering and Maritime Studies Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg Centre for the Study of Education and Training (CSET), Lancaster University

The project has been carried out with the support of the European Commission in the context of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. This document does not necessarily represent the Commission's official position.