Comprehensive Quality Management

GAO assessed the impact of formal quality management on U.S. companies' productivity and profitability. GAO noted that: (1) U.S. companies had increased their skill levels, knowledge, and implementation of quality management, but the majority of corporate chief executive officers had not implemented comprehensive quality management systems for their companies; (2) corporate executives and quality management experts believed that opposing views and increased competition were barriers to implementing comprehensive quality management systems; (3) six companies had completed comprehensive quality management studies; and (4) a Japanese prize and a U.S. award for achievements were intended to raise U.S. and Japanese industry quality levels, and consequently, the American award had a positive effect on U.S. corporations.