ISHS Acta Horticulturae 488: XI International Symposium on Apricot Culture
INTRODUCTION OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN THE CULTIVATION OF APRICOTS |
| Author: | C. Fotopoulos |
| Keywords: | Strategic Management, apricot industry, quality products, cooperatives, training |
| Abstract:
Competition resulting from abolition of price controls and subsidies as a result of the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy and the GATT agreements has in the interests of survival necessitated a revision of objectives and strategies in the Greek apricot industry. It is also recognized internationally that quality is a prime component of technical expertise as well as the most basic and most effective strategic weapon for dealing with competition. The concept of quality has, after a considerable evolutionary development, reached a stage where its touchstone is Total Quality Management (TQM). This is a new philosophy favouring total commitment to customer satisfaction by means of a continual improvement and innovation in all facets of enterprise activity. The purpose of this paper is twofold: firstly to give a thorough description of the present situation in the apricot sector, pointing out the difficulties it faces in applying TQM; secondly to analyze the TQM approach. From the analysis, it emerges that the existing situation in the apricot industry can be improved. | |
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