STATE AND TRENDS OF IMPLEMENTING QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN TRANSITIONAL CONDITIONS Zlatko Lacković ∗ Berislav Andrlić ∗∗ Krešimir Lacković ∗∗∗
Received: 18. 09. 2006 Accepted: 22. 10. 2009
Professional paper UDC 658.56(4+100)
Rapid technological development, as well as stronger competition have increased the importance of product quality. At the same time, the quality has been prescribed by adequate norms or standards. The implementation of quality systems is extremely important for companies that seek their position on the global market. In the European Union, quality systems of the international ISO standard are being applied, which are based on the principles of the Total Quality Management. On the other hand, Croatia and other transitional countries still need to strive to achieve the culture of quality management in their economies. This paper reviews the state of the ISO standard implementation in the transitional countries, as well as in the world.
1. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS The globalisation process is characterised by stronger competition and ever-stricter marketing conditions. Therefore, quality management and quality assurance have become a necessity in the struggle for a market and buyers, resulting in continuous work in this field. The concept, which has to be embodied in a control system of any modern economic subject, is the concept of quality control. Quality control traditionally applies to the control of business results, and it usually follows a production process by establishing the discrepancy between the planned and achieved product quality. Total quality ∗ Zlatko Lacković, PhD, Faculty of civil engineering Osijek and Požega Polytechnic, E-mail: zlatko.lackovic@gfos.hr ∗∗ Berislav Andrlić, MSc, Požega Polytechnic, E-mail: bandrlic@vup.hr ∗∗∗ Krešimir Lacković, Glas Slavonije, Osijek, E-mail: kresolackovic@hotmail.com
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