Quality management model for small ancillaries: benchmarking customer's assessment criteria

Globally, the reliance of large-scale industries (LSI) on suppliers' performance has increased. Majority of single tier managed small-scale industries (STSSI) in manufacturing sector are last tier ancillaries to LSIs. Implementing quality management system to fulfil the requirements of customers is the challenge for STSSIs. This paper identifies and prioritises the LSIs' requirements, based on the actual documents specifying their 'supplier quality system assessment criteria' and 'vendor rating' criteria. Also; strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) factors pertaining to STSSIs, and, affecting development of quality management system have been identified and analysed. This Indian context study further presents the 'quality management model' for STSSIs by benchmarking LSIs requirements and using strengths and weakness factors advantageously. The model will be useful for improving operational performance and can be independently adopted.