QUALITY CONTROL AS A COMPETITIVE TOOL FOR SMALL SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

TITLE PAGE                                                                                   

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Content

List of Tables

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the study

1.2       Statement of the problem

1.3       Objective of the study

1.4       Research Questions

1.5       Research hypotheses

1.6       Significance of the study

1.7       Scope of the study

1.8       Limitation of the study

1.9       Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.0       Introduction

2.1       Conceptual Framework

2.2       Theoretical Framework

2.3       Empirical studies

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study Area

3.2 Study Design

3.3 Study Population

3.4 Sample/Sampling technique

3.5 Pilot Study

3.6 Reliability

3.7 Validity of measurement or data

3.8 Data collection

3.9 Data Analysis

3.10 Ethical Approval

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1       Data Presentation

4.2       Descriptive Analysis

4.3       Test of Hypotheses

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1       Discussion

5.2       Summary

5.3       Conclusion

5.4       Recommendation

References

Appendix

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on quality control as a competitive tool for small scale enterprises using SME’s in Enugu State. The study further  identify if the culture of small scale enterprises will favour the application of TQM in the organization and assess if  application of TQM in small scale enterprises impacts the competitive advantage of the organization at large. The research adopted the survey descriptive design and with the aid of convenience sampling method, the researcher conveniently selected eighty (80) participant who are staff of Sale and Medium scale business in Enugu State. Self- structure questionnaire were issued to the respondent of which seventy-seven (77) responses were retrieved and validated for the study. The study made utilized descriptive analysis and inferential statistics where data from field survey was analyzed using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation presented in frequencies and tables. From the analysis of the study, findings concludes that  the extent to which quality control practices are implemented in  small scale enterprises is low, howbeit the few organizations that practice total quality management stand to gain a lot such as  enhanced product quality and reduce risks, gain production efficiencies, garner customer loyalty, exceed customers’ expectations and efficient minimization of waste which serves as competitive tool in the contemporary business environment. The study among others recommends that  Managers of small and medium scale businesses must develop and maintain their organization’s quality system and sufficient resources need to be allocated to both types of practices in order to achieve the highest business performance.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE ESSAY

The dynamic changes in the environment particularly as they affect the tastes and aspirations of consumers, underscore the need to respond effectively to challenges posed by the changes. On account of deregulation of our economy, competition has become a major challenge which chief executives must meet effectively to remain in business. Most managers agree that if an organisation is to be successful, it must change continually in response to significant development, such as customer needs, technological breakthroughs and government regulations (Eke, 2001).

Globalization of market and operations forces organisations to rethink their quality problems and in turn their overall organisational competitiveness. In order to be successful in this global market, organisations should dedicate themselves to improving productivity and quality in a timely and collaborative manner (Dobyns and Crawford, 1994).

In recent times, the concept of customer services has risen to the centre stage of modern business. As a result of this development, the management vocabulary is now replete with all kinds of technologies which are used to describe one and the same thing, customer service. Among these terminologies are customer satisfaction, customer care, customer relations, etc (Nwosu, 1996). To achieve world class customer service, Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques, supported by management commitment and good organisation will provide objective means of improving quality and hence the overall organisational competitiveness (Christopher, 1994).

Total quality management is among the new techniques which modern organisations now employ with very good effect to secure and keep their customers permanently satisfied. To this end, small scale businesses  Nigeria is not expected to be left out of this struggle by organisations, to remain relevant, gain a deeper insight into customers’ expectations of services and the strategies that could be implemented to achieve a closer fit with wants and needs as well as excel in the face of the present competitive environment. Total quality management is therefore a way of managing to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, flexibility and competitiveness of a business as a whole (Christopher, 1994). Quality control (QC) involves some rigorous practices also known as total quality management (TQM). As opined by Masindet and Ogollah  (2017) can help improve an organization’s performance because TQM aims at continuously improving the quality of offerings and processes by focusing on the customer’s needs and expectations to enhance customer satisfaction and firm performance. According to Bhuiyan,  Rahman, & Shahnewaz (2018) posits that total quality management  aids in creating a culture of trust, participation, teamwork, quality-mindedness, enthusiasm for continuous improvement, continuous learning and, fundamentally, a working culture that reinforces a firm’s success and existence.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The role played by the small business has a vital input in the socio-economic and welfare development of any nation cannot be overestimated. There is no doubt that poor quality culture has been the bane of management in Nigeria. Problems of meeting products specification, often times, product fail to meet the specification required by customers because of assignable causes like; defective materials used, improper setting of equipment, operational errors, manpower etc. it is not worthy of mention that it cost the same amount to produce products units problems of variation in quality of product. It is against this background that the writer intends to write on the quality control as a competitive tool for small scale enterprises in Nigeria.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE ESSAY

This objective of the essay is to examine the quality control as a competitive tool for small scale enterprises. The specific objectives are:

1. To examine the prospects of TQM in small scale enterprises.
2. To identify if the culture of small scale enterprises will favour the application of TQM in the organization.

• To assess if  application of TQM in small scale enterprises impacts the competitive advantage of the organization at large.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the extent to which quality control practices are implemented in small scale enterprises?
2. Does the culture of small scale enterprises favour the application of TQM in the organization?
3. What is thee significance of adopting quality control practices on firms operation efficiency.

• Does quality control practices has a significant impact on competitive advantage of small scale business.

1.5       Significance of the Study

The essay is important because it will make tremendous contribution towards improving the small scale enterprises. In Nigeria generally, some organisations have adopted the concept of TQM with little or no literature and academic research undertaken to stress the importance of quality in an organization.

The essay will help in determining the prospects of TQM in small scale enterprises. This will in no small measure increase performance in terms of profitability and customer satisfaction and thus contribute to knowledge in the field of quality management.

It is hope that this essay will serves as an avenue for managers to adopt the recommendations in handling the TQM for better economic development which will invariably lead to customers’ satisfaction. The essay will also be of immense significance to managers and future researchers who wish to probe further study on the topic

1.6    Scope and limitations of the Study

This essay work will be confined to the quality control as a competitive tool for small scale enterprises in Nigeria.As a management paradigm based on the principles of total customer satisfaction, employee involvement, and continuous improvement.

Emphasis in a nutshell, shall focus on TQM, as a concept that holds that no matter how well you are already doing you can always do better.

In the course of this essay, the writer encountered some natural limitations which made it difficult but never the less did not affect the result of the essay. In every writes-up finance is supreme the insufficiency of fund hampered the speed and thoroughness of conducting of this essay work. The time limit given for this study deprived the researcher the opportunity of covering all the expected areas of the essay. All these were constraints encountered in the course of the essay.

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