TQM Implementation at Transportation

GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation's implementation of total quality management (TQM). GAO found that: (1) about 87 percent of Transportation facilities have implemented or plan to implement TQM; (2) Transportation facilities became more involved with common TQM activities as TQM maturity increased; (3) almost one-half of the Transportation facilities believed that TQM had positive benefits, while 38 percent believed it was too soon to judge TQM benefits; (4) benefits increased and internal operating conditions improved as TQM maturity increased; (5) Transportation facilities believed that the major barriers to TQM implementation were insufficient information on TQM implementation and use, funding constraints, employees' empowerment to make changes, and a lack of long-term planning; and (6) barriers to TQM implementation became less troublesome as TQM maturity increased.