Supervisors' participation in quality efforts in large and small manufacturing firms

Supervisors' participation in quality efforts in large (n = 77) and small (n = 113) manufacturing firms in the motor vehicle parts and accessories industry (SIG 3714) was examined. While a majority of the supervisors of both types of firms agreed that top management was committed to quality, less than 27% of the supervisors indicated that they were satisfied with management support for quality efforts. A majority of the supervisors of both firm types also stated that they were committed to the organization and did not work under a great deal of tension. Unlike supervisors of large firms, a majority of the supervisors of small firms reported that they received training in quality and that workers responded positively to supervisors' quality efforts. Compared to small firms, supervisors of large firms felt a significantly higher workload (P < 0.01), significantly lower top management commitment (p < 0.05), and received less encouragement (p < 0.05) for their quality efforts.