Volume 4 No.12, December 2014 ISSN 2224-3577 International Journal of Science and Technology ©2014 IJST. All rights reserved http://www.ejournalofsciences.org Effect of Total Quality Management (TQM) on Employee Satisfaction in the Apparel Industries of Dhaka Division Farjana Mita a , Eliza Binte Elahi b , Farhana Mitu c , Reashad Bin Kabir d a Department of Apparel Manufacturing Management & Technology, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Bangladesh. b Lecturer, Department of Business Administration, University of South Asia, Bangladesh. c Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Administration, Uttara University, Bangladesh. d Assistant Professor, Department of Apparel Manufacturing Management & Technology, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Bangladesh. ABSTRACT Flourishing TQM surroundings entail a loyal and well-trained work force that takes part fully in quality enhancement activities. Such contribution is armored by incentive and recognition systems which accentuate the triumph of quality objectives. Enduring education and training of all employees supports the drive for quality. Employees are encouraged to take more responsibility, communicate more effectively, act creatively, and innovatively. As people act the way they are measured and compensated, TQM connects remuneration to employee satisfaction. Keywords — Apparel Industries, Dhaka Division, Employee Satisfaction, Total Quality Management (TQM). 1. INTRODUCTION To illustrate the concept of quality, quality is defined as a noteworthy component of production or services in order to gain customers satisfaction. There are different definitions and competing views of the term quality by different people and the common element of the business definitions is that the quality of a product or service refers to the perception of the degree to which the product or service meets the customer's expectations. Crosby defined quality as the conformance to requirements or specifications and also suggested that to manage quality adequately; it must be able to be measured [1] . ISO 9000: (2000) defined quality as the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfill requirements [2] . The American Society of Quality sees quality as being subjective, with different individuals having their own perception of it [3] . To them, quality can be seen as having two meanings – the characteristics of the product or service ability to satisfy a particular need or a product or service devoid of faults. It can be defined as a state of conformance to valid requirements where valid requirement are defined as conditions that meets the needs of customers, measurable and achievable. Peters defined quality as a ‘magic bullet’ which provides lower cost, higher customer service, better products and higher margins. He also explained that ‘quality is in the eyes of the beholder’, this mean it is what the customer say it is [4] . The implementation of TQM involves the buying in of different units involved in the process of service delivery into the ideology and practices of quality management, which should be championed by the leadership of the Apparel Industries. That is, the support and primary activities of service delivery must inculcate quality in their activities [5] . 2. LITERATURE REVIEW The total quality management concept has undergone many changes and developments ever since it has been evolved. The modification of TQM has produced Six Sigma. It is a new face on the TQM canvas. The Six Sigma is based on five principals. DMAIC – Define, measure, analyze, improve and control. His study revealed that this approach of TQM encourage team work to attain organization success. The companies using Six Sigma have two teams i.e. Green belt and Black belt. The green belts undergo 1-2 weeks training. This is learning and knowledge transference where the trainees learn effective project management, problem solving, data analysis etc. Black belts trained on specialized skills and knowledge. The training is designed to teach them computer aided statistical applications and technologies. The training to black belts is spread over 5 weeks time. Such courses and training demand a strong background of mathematics and stats education at college or university level. The benefits attached to this TQM approach is employee involvement at all levels, accountability, extensive training for continue progress. Motorola and General Electric companies prove the success of Six Sigma approach. It is practiced in other sectors also like military and government organizations, hospitals and food manufacturing companies to deliver quality results [6] .It is rapidly growing quality approach and in India Godrej – GE, Wipro and Hero Motors all use this management practice to improve business [7] .Total quality management support businessmen to attain brilliance in their work by improving and empowering employees. VanDevender has shown total quality management linked with human resource in the article titled Total Quality Human Resources Management – TQHRM. The study has explained this emerging concept as the AACC concept: A = alignment A = authority C = capability C = commitment Alignment and cohesion in employees work could be achieved if they know and understand the nature of the business, shareholders, target market, customers’ demands and needs. Well defined Standard Operating Procedures and