The implementation of quality management practices in Indonesian SMEs

This paper examines the perceptions of SME owners/managers about the implementation of quality management practices. The framework adopted was systematically developed from the literature on quality management practices. In particular, survey responses from 338 of the Indonesian SMEs were used to assess the implementation level of quality management practices in terms of product quality, process quality, system quality, total quality and business quality stages. The statistical methods were applied to evaluate the implementation levels of the quality practices in different stages. The results can provide important insights to SME owners on gaining their competitive advantage. Further, some managerial implications of this study are also presented.