Factors affecting product quality and reliability: A comparison of developed and developing countries

Increasing global competition has led to the need for organisations to continually improve their quality performance. In particular, developing countries such as China are focused on catching up with more developed countries. This study examines the relationships between improvement in three factors (health and safety conditions, worker motivation and satisfaction, work/life balance policies) in increase in product quality and reliability in developed countries. Based on a questionnaire, the study shows that improvement in health and safety conditions have a significant direct impact on increase in product quality and reliability while improvement in work/life balance do not have the same effect.