A research network has examined how quality management is implemented in small
and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland,
Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The research has taken place within the
framework of the Leonoardo Da Vinci pogramme. Managers of SMEs in the
metalworking and food processing industries were asked what the consequences of
the implementation of quality management were for the qualification needs of
employees. This book presents the survey results as two sector studies. Analysed
are competitive and specialisation tendencies of the sectors and company
concepts of "Quality" and "Personnel" including current profiles of
quality-related skill demands on staff as well as