The impact of information systems on quality performance

Asserts that information systems are an essential component in the efficacy of quality management systems and that information systems therefore merit greater recognition within the theory and the practice of quality management. Based on an empirically validated reference model which includes three dimensions: quality management practices, quality information systems (split into information flows and information technologies) and quality performance. The claim is stated through null hypotheses which are tested on a sample of 34 manufacturing plants, with more than 100 employees, in the electronics, machinery and auto-supplier industries. The results show that: quality management practices are closely linked to quality information flows; the contribution of information flows to the obtaining of high quality performances is considerable; information technologies seem to contribute something to the achievement of high quality performance and in particular of low defectiveness but their contribution requires further investigation; the upstream links with suppliers and downstream links with customers strongly influence the achievement of quality performance.