Abstract

PINTO, José Castro  and  PINTO, Ana Lúcia. The importance of quality management systems certification in portugal. Rev. Portuguesa e Brasileira de Gestão [online]. 2011, vol.10, n.1-2, pp.48-61. ISSN 1645-4464.

The increased number of certified companies in Portugal and Worldwide has shown that certification is being seen as a strategic objective. But which are the true reasons that justify this commitment of managers? The increase of market share, higher competition or simply the improvement of organizational image? Based on ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001/NP 4397 evolution in Portugal from 1995 to the end of 2007, we intend to analyze the level of importance that Portuguese companies attribute to certification in a general way and which are the factors that influence it. This research was based on a study of quality management genesis and its historical evolution, and was supported on a survey addressed to 364 certified companies according to the standards mentioned above. The collected data were analysed using SPSS and the ordered regression model. The findings indicate that there are three variables that influence the overall importance of the certification - «Reduce costs and waste (re-work, returns)», «To improve the organization internally (efficiency of the processes)» and «To increase the market share/number of customers», indicated by order of importance. It is also important to note the model’s good predicted capacity, classifying correctly 72.3% of the cases.

Keywords : Quality Management; Portuguese Quality System; Certification; Ordered Regression Model.

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