Implementation of a quality management system in luxury companies : focus on leather handbags

This paper investigates the current trends of implementing a quality management system, and provides a theoretical guidance for implementation of such a system in luxury leather handbag companies. Several important issues have been raised during the research, i.e. poor interest in the analysis of the existing quality management practices in luxury goods industry, unavailability of primary data, as well as the existence of a shared focus on customer, between TQM philosophy and luxury industry. Basic requirements for establishment of a quality-oriented business environment are an adequate organizational structure at the corporate level, and a proper quality department position within. The primary challenge to introduce the adequate set of guidelines has been to integrate and synthesize the researched literature and studies, by illustrating opportunities for further research and improvement. The suggested framework outlining implementation guidelines matches and is organized around two crucial areas of luxury business: levels of quality and value chain activities. This paper is organized as follows: Chapter 1 provides introduction to and explanation of the importance of the topic. Chapters 2 and 3 provide the overview of the trends in Quality Management and Luxury Industry (with a particular attention to the sector of luxury goods), respectively. Chapter 4, dealing with the value chain in luxury goods industry, represents a bridge between the general literature review and the more focused area of interest. Furthermore, Chapter 5 outlines research questions and objective, while Chapter 6 discusses organizational aspects and guidelines for the implementation of a quality management system in luxury leather handbags industry. Finally, after the wrap up of the paper in Chapter 7, readers are provided with the list of appendices and references in Chapters 8 and 9, correspondingly.