Total quality management and competitive advantage of manufacturing organizations in the Steel industry Durban Metropolis

Abstract

This study investigated total quality management (TQM) and the competitive advantage of manufacturing organizations in the steel industry in the Durban Metropolis. While a few studies have touched on TQM and competitive advantage in Durban, they did not examine TQM and competitive advantage in steel manufacturing organizations in the city. The literature on the context of business competitiveness, total quality principles, process management and top management and other pertinent concepts was reviewed. Purposive sampling was employed to obtain a total of 100 participants from the 23 organizations in the Durban steel industry. A quantitative research design was adopted, with a questionnaire administered to gather data. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which was employed to prove or disprove the hypotheses, with the results presented in tables and graphs. The findings suggest that employee training, committed management, a customer-focused approach, sound relationships with suppliers, and clear goals would enable organizations in Durban’s steel industry to improve their performance and thus gain a competitive edge. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on TQM in organizations and its impact in the steel manufacturing industry. Further research is recommended to explore the impact of the adoption of TQM among South African organizations.