A collaboration concept for TQM implementation in small and medium sized enterprises

The article presents a concept to implement total quality management (TQM) in small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and is based on a yearlong collaboration between a college and local SME's. An annual course is developed and offered to both company participants and students who work together in project teams and in genuine projects at the companies. The course curriculum is presented and analyzed and the ability of the course to facilitate the companies' long-term quality strategies is discussed. The outcomes of the course, as reported by the companies, show that the collaboration has supported their long-term implementation of TQM.