Total quality management and ISO 9000 applications in Turkey

The literature includes many success and failure stories of the firms adopting total quality management (TQM). As many firms in Turkey try to adopt this philosophy, there is a need to clarify quality concepts and comment on applications. This paper attempts a broad review of the current status of TQM and ISO 9000 in Turkey. It considers the extent to which ISO 9000 and TQM are being successfully implemented. It also presents the reasons for obtaining an ISO 9000 certificate, difficulties faced during the registration process, improvements achieved and disappointments experienced after being certified. The findings of this study are compared with those from other countries.