Comparative Perceptions of Product Quality Management

Abstract

There has been an increasing drive to improve total quality management of manufactured products internationally in recent years. This has resulted in many improvements in the quality and management of quality in New Zealand firms. Research was carried out in New Zealand to compare the opinions of manufacturing company managers about product quality with general public opinions. Probes perceptions of recent changes in product quality and compares the quality of New Zealand made goods with the quality of those made overseas. Most managers and consumers agreed that the quality of New Zealand made goods is now better than most overseas made goods. Shows a great improvement in the public perception of New Zealand made goods in recent years. Managers are still much stronger than consumers in their belief in local made high quality, which may have resulted in some complacency regarding management of product quality.