Leadership and Top Management Influence on Total Quality Management Implementation in the Ghanaian Construction Industry

This study aims to determine the key and underlying Leadership and Top Management (LTM) factors that have a significant impact on sustaining the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) within the construction industry in Ghana. The research methodology employed in this study was a quantitative technique. Questionnaires were distributed to 641 participants within construction industry in Ghana. Questionnaires retrieved for the analysis were 536. Three steps approached were used for the data analysis. These include Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. After conducting the EFA and CFA, SEM was also used to analyze the construct validity. The SEM analysis helps to determine four key indicator variables for the leadership and top management construct. These include Leadership/Top Management approach to employees’ management, Leadership/Top Management understanding of TQM, Leadership/Top Management empowerment of employees to resolve quality issues, and Leadership/Top Management endorsement of TQM. All the four indicator variables were found to be good of fit and closely associated with the dependent variable. The study adds to the body of knowledge by using EFA, CFA and SEM techniques to establish key leadership and top management factors affecting TQM implementation in Ghana’s construction industry. The findings in general suggested that leadership and top Management factors identified have a direct positive impact on sustaining TQM implementation in the Ghanaian construction industry. Consequently, the leadership and top management factors identified in this study can help improve TQM in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Comparison of German and American Higher Education Accreditation Systems and Implications for Quality Management of Higher Education in China

At the present stage,China’s higher education has experienced continuous reform and enhancement,the scale of education has jumped to the forefront,and the quality of education has been continuously improved,which has made gratifying achievements.The development of China’s higher education has entered the critical node of improving quality and efficiency,and the importance of quality management as the central link in improving the quality of higher education is self-evident.Accreditation as an effective means of quality assurance,in Germany and the United States has formed a mature and perfect system and procedures.Therefore,analysing and learning from the quality management system of higher education in Germany and the United States has an important reference value for promoting the further development of quality management of higher education in China.

Research on Quality Management Measures of Green Building Construction

Urbanization has led to the rapid development of the construction industry.However,this has also led to higher requirements for the construction engineering management.Other than the quality monitoring of engineering construction,the energy-saving properties of the building should also be considered.Therefore,a scientific management approach should be adopted to improve green building management.This paper primarily examines the importance of quality management in green building construction,along with the factors influencing it.It also identifies the quality issues present in current green building construction.Finally,it proposes measures for quality management in the green building construction process to facilitate the industry’s healthy development.

An Overview of Quality Management of Therapeutic Vaccines in Clinical Trials in China

Objective To provide suggestions and a reference for improving the quality management system of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines and promoting the development of therapeutic vaccines in China.Methods Literature research,case study and comparative study were used to analyze the quality management system of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines.Results and Conclusion From the perspective of the sponsor,investigators and the thirdparty technical service company,the problems such as the low efficiency of clinical trial sample preparation and the lax implementation of the protocol by hospital departments in the quality management of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines in China were found.Then,the optimization plan for the quality management of clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines is proposed,including optimizing the preparation process of therapeutic vaccines and strengthening the training of hospital department personnel.

Advances in the Research of Quality Management System of Dairy Enterprises

As the global economy enters a new stage,Chinese dairy enterprises are gradually moving towards the road of internationalization.In this paper,the internationally common quality management system,food safety system and quality traceability system were analyzed and studied to promote the comprehensive transformation and upgrading of dairy industry and broaden the development road with the help of systematic construction.

Introduction of PIC/S Accession Procedure and Suggestions for Establishing a Unified Quality Management System in China

Objective To introduce the accession procedure and evaluation of PIC/S,and help relevant departments in China to understand the requirements of PIC/S in detail,and to promote the process of China’s entry into PIC/S.Methods The procedures and steps of joining PIC/S,the evaluation process of PIC/S,and the experience of several countries in joining PIC/S were introduced and analyzed,which could help the relevant personnel in China understand the specific contents.Results and Conclusion According to the requirements of PIC/S,it is necessary to establish a unified GMP quality management system.

The Problems and Countermeasures of Four Community Pharmacies on Drug Quality Management in Kangping County

Objective To study the drug quality management of four community pharmacies and provide countermeasures and suggestions for improving the drug management level in Kangping County.Methods Literature research and investigation research were adopted in this paper to analyze the current situation and problems of drug management in four community pharmacies in a town of Kangping County.Results and Conclusion The problems of four community pharmacies in a town of Kangping County are low level of drug quality management,insufficient quality and capability of the practitioners and physician’s illegal act such as some licensed pharmacists paid from the linked pharmacies.There are also problems in facilities and equipment,drug display and storage,and document management,which reflects the lack of local drug supervision.Based on the above problems,some countermeasures and suggestions are put forward to strengthen the drug quality management of four community pharmacies in Kangping County.

Study on the Teaching Total Quality Management of Management Postgraduate

With the rapid development of postgraduate education in management in China, the traditional teaching quality management mode can not meet the diversity demands to the high-level management talents in nowadays society. In this paper, the total quality management is introduced into the quality management of postgraduate education in colleges and universities, capacity requirements of management postgraduate is investigated from two perspectives of enterprises and students, the whole operating model is explored as well.

INTEGRATION OF HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Human factors engineering and quality management are different research branches in the field of industrial engineering.A basis for interaction based on the concepts and techniques of human factors engineering and quality management with some practical examples of cooperative effect is defined in this paper.The specific challenges about the quality management in manufacturing and service are presented to demonstrate that the human factors analysis of quality problems leads to new tends for integrated development.

An integrated measurement and modeling methodology for estuarine water quality management

This paper describes research undertaken by the authors to develop an integrated measurement and modeling methodology for water quality management of estuaries. The approach developed utilizes modeling and measurement results in a synergistic manner. Modeling results were initially used to inform the field campaign of appropriate sampling locations and times, and field data were used to develop accurate models. Remote sensing techniques were used to capture data for both model development and model validation. Field surveys were undertaken to provide model initial conditions through data assimilation and determine nutrient fluxes into the model domain. From field data, salinity re- lationships were developed with various water quality parameters, and relationships between chlorophyll a concentrations, transparency, and light attenuation were also developed. These relationships proved to be invaluable in model development, particularly in modeling the growth and decay of chlorophyll a. Cork Harbour, an estuary that regularly experiences summer algal blooms due to anthropogenic sources of nutrients, was used as a case study to develop the methodology. The integration of remote sensing, conventional fieldwork, and modeling is one of the novel aspects of this research and the approach developed has widespread applicability.

Perioperative Management of Cleft Palate Repair in a Patient with Williams Syndrome: A Case Report

The Background: Williams syndrome is a neurodevelopmental multisystem genetic disorder characterized by dysmorphic features and a wide range of congenital cardiac, renal, musculoskeletal anomalies. Presence of cleft palate in these patients is an unusual condition. More than 22 cases of sudden cardiac death reported in literature especially during anesthetic management in the patients of Williams syndrome. So these patients present major perioperative challenges to anesthesiologist. The authors report successful anesthetic care for repair of cleft palate in presence of uncorrected patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and mild supraventricular aortic stenosis (SVAS) in a 3.5-year-old female child diagnosed with Williams syndrome. Case report: Diagnosed case of Williams syndrome with characteristic facial dysmorphic features, SVAS and rare malformation of PDA, was scheduled for cleft palate repair. After keen preoperative assessment, general anesthesia was administered for the procedure with continuous monitoring for vital parameters. Because of dysmorphic features, difficulty was faced during intubation. Otherwise intraoperative procedure was uneventful. Postoperative analgesia was managed with intravenous paracetamol. Conclusion: Being a multisystem disorder, each patient of WS requires meticulous preoperative evaluation and high level of intraoperative and postoperative continuous monitoring regardless of any surgical procedure. Surgical correction of cleft palate in such patients demands very high anesthetic and surgical skills as both share common airway. Present case report highlights the significance of aggressive perioperative management in WS which can result in successful outcome.

Developing a matrix to explore the relationship between partnering and total quality management in construction

Recently, there has been an increasing awareness and implementation of practices associated with Partnering and Total Quality Management (TQM) in the construction industry. Partnering and TQM both seek to enhance construction outcomes, yet rigorous studies of Partnering and TQM have been conducted separately and have not carefully examined common or unique practices associated with these techniques. This paper presents the findings of a theoretical analysis of an integrated approach for the use of Partnering and TQM. A matrix approach has been used to explore the extent to which Partnering may improve TQM implementation in construction. The matrix is based around 3 indexes, namely; the Degree of Partnering, the Degree of TQM and the Project Success Index and enables the relationship between Partnering and TQM to be analysed quantitatively. It also assists in understanding the trends of Partnering and TQM and their relationship to project performance. The results of a case study using this matrix are also presented. It has been concluded that the integrated use of Partnering can facilitate improvements in the way TQM is implemented in construction.

Risk Thinking in ISO Quality Management System

The importance of risk thinking is emphasized in the ISO quality management system.In order to do a good job in quality management,we should use risk thinking to do a good job in risk management,improve the level of quality management,and enhance customer satisfaction,so that enterprises can meet the international quality certification standards in the process of development,and have greater development space in the market.Therefore,this paper studies the risk thinking in the ISO quality management system,summarizes the concept of risk thinking in the ISO quality management system,analyzes the problems existing in the application of risk thinking in the ISO quality management system of Chinese enterprises,and puts forward some suggestions for improvement one by one.It is hoped that the analysis can promote Chinese enterprises to fully integrate risk-based thinking into quality management,calmly cope with risks and opportunities,and make customers more satisfied with their services and products.

APPLICATION OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN A CHINESE BASED SOCIETY——HONG KONG

Hong Kong′s current quality management philosophy can best be described as imported and experimental. This is because Hong Kong is at the interface of Eastern and Western culture, and modern quality management philosophies are at first imported from the West and implanted into the Hong Kong Subsidiaries of American and European controlled companies. Local experience in quality management is usually obtained via trial and error, and through progressive modifications. The influence of Chinese culture on quality management in Hong Kong has formed the main subject of this study. This study is to initiate the interest to develop modern quality management concepts based on Chinese culture. Some initial results suggest that Hong Kong managers have great interest in applying Chinese working principle to quality management.

Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Cyanotic Heart Disease Who Underwent Palliative and Total Repair

Background:Studies on predictors of health-related quality of life(HRQOL)in pediatric patients with cyanotic heart disease who are waiting for the next stage and those who have undergone total repair are scarce.Therefore,we aimed to identify such predictors in children who received the modified Blalock–Taussig shunt(MBTS)and those who underwent total repair.Methods:In this historical cohort and concurrent follow-up study,data of children who underwent MBTS at the age of 0–3 years between January 2005 and December 2016 at a super-tertiary care hospital in Southern Thailand were obtained.Children who were alive in December 2017 were recruited to evaluate the quality of life at least 1 year after their operation.Between January and December 2018,the“Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales”with both child self-report and parent proxy-report scores were used to examine the HRQOL.Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of HRQOL.Beta-coefficient(β)and 95% confidence intervals(95%CIs)were calculated and considered statistically significant at p<0.05.Results:Among the 380 enrolled children,148 died,122 survived and waited for total repair,and 110 survived after total repair.In the multivariate analysis,chronic lung disease was a common predictor of lower physical and psychosocial HRQOL reported by the parents(β[95%CI]:−0.42[−0.81,−0.03]and−0.49[−0.89,−0.09],respectively).Total repair was a predictor of higher physical HRQOL according to both parents and children(β[95%CI]:0.33[0.09,0.57]and 0.70[0.36,1.03],respectively).A predictor of higher psychosocial HRQOL reported by the parents was younger age during MBTS surgery compared with older age(β[95%CI]:0.012[0.001,0.022]).In the total repair subgroup,undergoing the Fontan procedure(vs.Glenn procedure)was a predictor for lower physical HRQOL reported by the parents(β[95%CI]:−0.82[−1.52,−0.13]).Higher socioeconomic status was a predictor of both physical and psychosocial HRQOL(β[95%CI]:0.018[0.001,0.034]and 0.012[0.0001,0.04],respectively).Conclusions:Successful total repair was a predictor of higher physical HRQOL,and younger age during MBTS surgery was a predictor of higher psychological HRQOL in children with cyanotic heart disease.Higher socioeconomic status was a predictor of both physical and psychological HRQOL following total repair[Thai Clinical Trials Registry:TCTR20161221003].

Total Quality Management in the Hospital Area and Its Contribution to Patient Safety

Objective： This study deals with the emergence of Total Quality Management and its start in the hospital area, as well as its connection to the patient safety issue, introducing the use of quality tools as the ＂cause and effect diagram＂, brainstorming, flowcharts for analysis of adverse events and a financial analysis of the impact that adverse events cause in an institution. Methods： We used a literature review through consultation with research sources as Scielo, Medline, Fiocruz - Proqualis, as well as access to books and websites on the subject. Conclusion： With the increasing need to provide hospital care quality, Total Quality Management in the hospital area has much to contribute to reach an even better service and safe, helping to mitigate the adverse events through use of tools such as ＂cause and effect diagram＂, brainstorming and flowcharts, where the occurrence of events involving patient safety resulted in large losses of hospital costs.

The Relationship between Visual Satisfaction and Water Clarity and Quality Management in Tourism Fishing Ports

Visual satisfaction of the tourists with a water body is strongly influenced by water clarity, which is in turn influenced by a number of water quality parameters. Visual satisfaction thus stands to benefit from having a water quality management tool that results in better water clarity. A Clarity Suitability Index of Water Quality (CSIWQ), derived from clarity suitability curves of selected water quality parameters, can allow estimation of optimal values for these parameters, while ensuring high visual satisfaction among tourists. The present study used sampling and survey methodologies to investigate water clarity and quality at five tourism fishing ports;simultaneously, tourists’ visual satisfaction with a water body was assessed through a questionnaire based on their perceptions. The relationship between tourists’ visual satisfaction and water clarity was found to be positive and strong, with water clarity having predictive power of 74.2%. The study showed that DO, BOD, TP, and SS were the most critical parameters for water clarity. A continued product approach of CSIWQ was found to be most appropriate for describing the relationship between water clarity and these four parameters. This enabled a CSIWQ Index value to be calculated. With a CSIWQ value of 0.6, water clarity would be more than 2.08 m, and tourists would experience very high satisfaction. CSI curves showed that DO would preferably be 9.0 mg/L, and BOD, TP, and SS less than 0.5 mg/L, 0.12 mg/L, and 45.0 mg/L, respectively. The model thus produced valuable insights for assessing and improving water quality and ensuring high levels of visual satisfaction among tourists in tourism fishing ports. This model identified only four parameters but could be improved by ensuring that other water quality parameters were included, to encourage an increase in the number of tourists and to include monitoring of more pollutant sources.

The Impact of Total Quality Management on Health Services Improvement, Sana’a Hospitals, Yemen (2017-2020)

Background: Total quality management (TQM) plays a major role in quality health services improvement. The aims of the study are to identify the concepts of total quality management in health institutions to know the nature of the relationship between the application of TQM and improving the quality of health services in Sana’a Governorate. Method: This applied research is a descriptive cross-sectional study in which the TQM of 13 affiliated Sana’a Governorate hospitals during “2017-2020”, were evaluated based on self-administered questionnaires. Data were collected by questionnaires including demographical variables, TQM dimensions variables. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Results: A total of 281 users 98.6% had responded. The employee’s responses for sixth study dimensions were the top manager’s commitment (TMC) 80.46%, customers focusing CF 81.55%, continuous improvement (CI) 82.32%, training (T) 71.51%, and strategic planning of the quality (SPQ) 74.76%, health services quality improvement (HSQI) 74.25%. There is a strong relationship between TQM and HSQI. There is no relationship between demographic factors gender, profession, years of experience, except age with TMC, T, HSQI, qualification with the TMC, CI, T, HSQI and job with all study variables. Conclusion: The application of TQM at hospitals in quality of health services improvement has several challenges, lacking staff experience and lacking leadership support, weakness of the training, customers focusing, continuous improvement, and strategic planning of the quality. Therefore, benefiting from the experiences of leading hospitals in implementing total quality management programs by sending some cadres to these hospitals for training and gaining experience or by hosting experienced cadres to conduct training courses is recommended.

Chinese university comprehensive quality management --Based on the British University of Wolverhampton

China＇s popular education model and the pressure caused by various educational institutions have prompted some colleges and universities in China to carry out the reform of teaching quality. Through the research on the quality management problems, combined with the British University of Wolverhampton experience to explore the necessity of Implementation of total quality management in Chinese universities and main measures.

Telemedicine and digital management in repair and regeneration after nerve injury and in nervous system diseases

To the editor, We read with interest the article, ＂Facilitating transparency in spinal cord injury studies using data standards and ontol- ogles＂ by Professor Vance E Lemmon, University of Miami, USA （Lemmon et al., 2014） and would like to add to the discussion on digital management in spinal cord injury. We have analyzed the advancements in the treatment of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain jury. Encouraging outcomes injury and peripheral nerve in- have been achieved in the area of regulating axon growth in vivo and in vitro. However, such a large amount of information neither provides in-depth insight for other scholars nor provides detailed therapeutic nrotocols for clinical studies.