APPRECIATION of the importance of quality management and the implementation of such practices in Hongkong are increasing, according to a new research study.
The report was prepared by John Romagna, who had previously written the Housing Authority's benchmark study, Quality Management in Public Housing.
The study surveyed senior executives from 300 of Hongkong's largest industrial corporations, using an overlapping pattern of survey questionnaires, phone interviews and in-depth, group and individual discussions.
''To anyone working in the quality field, it was clear that a 'quiet revolution' was taking place in these last three years since we wrote our Housing Authority study,'' said Mr Romagna, who lives in Hongkong and is managing director of OSA-Mortiboysss, a quality management consultancy.
''This latest research documents the extent of this revolution.'' The findings show that, across all industries, Hongkong manufacturers rank quality of product and service as the most import factors for success.
This was followed, in order, by market contacts, labour cost, production technology, and tariffs or quotas.