The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model in a Low Voltage Switchgear Compan
Author:Özgür Özmen, Roxana Sârbu, Andreea Simona Săseanu and Corneliu Toader
JEL:L15, M16, M21
DOI:
Keywords:self-assessment, The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM),
low voltage switchgear sector.
Abstract:
The Turkish low voltage switchgear sector is made up of several local and international
companies. Generally, local companies operating in this sector try to get a competitive
advantage by fabricating cheap products , in order to cope with the competition that focuses
more on quality. What’s more, international corporations perform quality activities under
the organization and control of their top-managements from abroad. Although VIKO is a
local producer, it is a company willing to invest more in quality, as well as in research and
development. VIKO company is the focus of this self-assessment study, since it lies at the
conjunction of companies operating in this sector, it being a local company performing
various quality enhancement activities . Simultaneously, the authors consider that this study
shall prove useful to create an overview over the entire Turkish low voltage switchgear
sector. The evaluation of the company and its core-activities was based upon nine criteria of
the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, in order to
identify the strengths, the weaknesses and aspects that require improvements . This is the
first study worldwide performed in the low voltage switchgear sector and it is aimed at
motivating other Turkish companies that operate in this sector to implement The European
Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model in their TQM activities
(Total Quality Management).