TQM practices in garments industry from the perspective of Bangladesh

The export-oriented RMG sector has made crucial contribution to this abovementioned transformation of theBangladesh economy. The export-oriented readymade garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh started its journeyin late 1970s as a small non-traditional sector of export. Bangladesh exported RMG worth only US$ 69thousand when Reaz Garments exported its first consignment to USA in 1978. By FY2002, within a span ofabout two decades exports have gone up to US$4.5 billion. Over the past decade alone, the sector registered aphenomenal growth rate of 15 percent per annum, which is impressive by any standard. In fact, this was anexceptionally high growth rate for an emerging industry anywhere in the world. The industrial base whichsustained such high growths also enjoyed a robust expansion, from less than 50 factories in 1983 to more than3,400 in 2002, with the number of RMG workers reaching approximately 1.5 million.Labor unrest, political instability, scarcity of utilities is few major problems faced in RMG sector. However,RMG sector is improving productivity and efficiency with the help of skilled labor force and improvedtechniques. TQM is one of the major techniques which help to improve productivity. In this paper, how TQMtechniques are implemented in Bangladesh will be discussed. Primary data was collected from compliance factory as well as non-compliance factory according to TQMframework. Collected data was analyzed. Primary data was collected through observation method as it wasapparent that most of people who work in this industry are not aware about TQM techniques rather they areimplementing those as a practice. Sample size was 6. The factory which are dealing large bulk as well asinternationally recognized with certificate only considered.To assess the TQM practices in garments factory of Bangladesh is gigantic task. Sample size 6 is notappropriate to represent whole industry as there are different types of factory in terms of production of goods,capacity, and size. Uses of each technique carried point 1. As total number of techniques are 13 total points is 13. It is seemed thatthere is no company which used TQM techniques properly rather they are use some of them. From the selectedsample the Viyellatex Group is highest scorer they got 10 out of 13 and lowest user is Cordial Design Ltd.Mostly used techniques are Information Technology, Quality Management System, Products and ServiceLiability and Experimental Design. Lest used TQM techniques are Failure Mode & Effect Analysis, TotalProductive Maintenance, Taguchi’s Quality Management. From the depth interview of Management and Ownerof the garments factory revel that they perceive implementation of TQM is expenditure as they could notmeasure the benefit of implication of TQM. So most they prefer conventional human management techniques. TQM is not destination rather it journey and it has not end. Organization is always trying to improve as well asdifferent techniques and tools are invented parallel customer expectation are enhanced. So definition of qualityis always evolving. In Bangladesh RMG is booming sector its growth is remarkable. To sustain the developmentand keep the growth rate high necessity of TQM is crucial. The owners and the professional of RMG shouldconsider the fact