Application of the Total Quality Management (TQM) framework to sugarcane production

Issue Date

4-2007

Abstract

Sugar yields in 12 mill districts of Negros Occidental were assessed using Total Quality Management (TQM) indicators: hardware (101 indicators), humanware (78) and software (11). The farms were clustered into 3: large farms (more than 100 ha), medium (25 to 100 ha) and small farms (24 ha and below). Data were gathered through formal survey and the TQM variables were analyzed through stepwise multiple regression analysis, to identify TQM indicators for high sugar yields within the clusters. TQM was not farm-size dependent and not exclusively practiced by the big farms; however, it was TQM that spelled the difference in yield between and among farm clusters. The results indicate that increasing further sugar yields requires improvements not only in one or two but all of the three indicators of TQM. The hardware (process, product control and continuous improvements), humanware (humans and relationship) and software (strategic planning and information) were found to be interrelated with each other. The new outlook requires that sugarcane production not only consider the biophysical and technology aspects of production but also include the human element. Better care and management of the workers translated to higher sugar yields. Giving proper incentives and providing better living conditions among farm workers (humanware) were found important requisites to achieving high yields particularly in large farms where yields were already higher than the medium and small farms. There were already sugarcane planters (6%) obtaining high sugar yields (10 t/ha and above). It means the TQM culture is already here. Providing the enabling conditions so that most if not all farmers can achieve high yield levels will satisfy the increasing demand for sugar in the future.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

32

Issue

1

Page

59-75

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables, picture

Language

English

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