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The Zero-Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) movement has received increasing interest from practitioners and academics. However, despite the academic development of the field, the adoption of ZDM enablers such as robotic in-line quality inspection applications has not increased as expected. This article explores the state of adoption of robotic in-line quality inspection at five global Swedish manufacturing companies. Results show that contrary to the case companies' beliefs, more people- and process-oriented challenges have been encountered compared with technological ones. Future work will focus on developing system design guidelines for robotic in-line quality inspection systems in the realm of ZDM.

In the era of market globalisation, the quality of products has become a key factor for success in the manufacturing industry. The growing demand for customised products requires a corresponding adjustment of processes, leading to frequent and necessary changes in production control. Quality inspection has been historically used by the manufacturing industry to detect defects before customer delivery of the end product. However, traditional quality methods, such as quality inspection, suffer from large limitations in highly customised small batch production. Frameworks for quality inspection have been proposed in the current literature. Nevertheless, full exploitation of the Industry 4.0 context for quality inspection purpose remains an open field. Vice-versa, for quality inspection to be suitable for Industry 4.0, it needs to become fast, accurate, reliable, flexible, and holistic. This paper addresses these challenges by developing a multi-layer quality inspection framework built on previous research on quality inspection in the realm of Industry 4.0. In the proposed framework, the quality inspection system consists of (a) the work piece to be inspected, (b) the measurement instrument, (c) the actuator that manipulates the measurement instrument and possibly the work-piece, (d) an intelligent control system, and (e) a cloud-connected database to the previous resources; that interact with each other in five different layers, i.e., resources, actions, and data in both the cyber and physical world. The framework is built on the assumption that data (used and collected) need to be validated, holistic and on-line, i.e., when needed, for the system to effectively decide upon conformity to surpass the presented challenges. Future research will focus on implementing and validating the proposed framework in an industrial case study.

In the realm of Industry 4.0, measurement systems play an important role in adapting industrial robots to dynamic environments. Real-time control techniques such as Measurement Assisted Assembly (MAA) can exploit the digital measurements for operation process corrections. Likewise, the propagation of defects can be avoided with in-line measurement conditions. The purpose of this paper is to first understand the capability of robotic in-line measurement assisted assembly in the industrial case of peg-in-hole assembly and second, record the encountered challenges and their enablers. A proof of concept - formed by two 6DoF industrial robots, an in-line Linear Laser (LL), and an on-machine force sensor - have been designed and tested in a lab environment. The experimental results show that robotic in-line measurement assisted assembly can be performed within the tight tolerances of (i) 0, 071 ° to 0, 154° angular deviation between X and Y axes, (ii) applying minimum (near 0) Newton forces in X and Y axes when performing the peg-in-hole robotic assembly of two parts with only 50μm clearance, and (iii) within the company's cycle time. Further, for the effectiveness and practicality of robotic measurement assisted assembly systems, we recorded the encountered challenges and key enablers. 

As manufacturing companies are becoming more global, dynamic, and competitive, contradictory demands intensify. Flexibility is a key enabler for meeting the challenges of a global market if offered at mass production price and quality. Many companies have adopted Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) together with new technologies. Nevertheless, despite the drastic increase in industrial robots adoption, industrial robot applications continue today as they were designed 50 years ago. To obtain a flexible and reliable production system, it takes more than technology as quality depends on equipment and manufacturing processes. Non-adaptive industrial robots autonomy may be disrupted by the geometrical deformations of the fixtures. This paper presents a comprehensive case study of adopting a robotic in-line quality inspection in an automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to aid the robot-fixture collision problem. The purpose is to examine errors that occur in production processes and how quality inspection can mitigate such errors. Empirical data collection was carried out in the form of (i) interviews, (ii) participant observations, (iii) documents, and (iv) video recording of robot cells. Results show that contrary to the case company beliefs, the manufacturing system does not follow the FMS standards; thus, to harmonise resources design and manufacturing processes, adding a robotic in-line quality inspection station is not enough. First, the robotic in-line quality inspection should follow a “preventive” control strategy to avoid deviated fixturing from entering the robot line. Second, the managers should address the beliefs of operators and their activities in solving the robot-fixture collision problem. Moreover third, the robot gripper design needs to be updated to an appropriate one.

No system is perfect or free of errors. For companies to reach zero defects in a highly volatile and uncertain environment, emerging technologies, as well as human involvement, are needed. The tenant is to measurement-assist the manufacturing system to predict and prevent deviations in dynamic conditions. This article reviews the Measurement-assisted manufacturing (MAM) literature with the aim to (i) reveal key technologies and processes for MAM, (ii) identify current practices and their weaknesses, and (iii) propose future directions. Results show that despite MAM and Zero-Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) being treated separately, they are deeply interrelated and combining both strategies can lead to true sustainability. The literature indicated that future work must be placed in 'hardware' as instrument operation and equipment maintenance, and 'software', as data analytics and geometry assurance strategies.

Contemporary manufacturing must prioritise the sustainability of its manufacturing processes and systems. Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) focusses on minimising waste of any kind using data-driven technology, hence enhancing the quality of all manufacturing aspects (product, process, service, etc.). Making things right on the first try is the central tenet of ZDM. In recent years, the application of automation for in-line quality inspection systems has begun to attract the interest of both practitioners and academics because of its capability to detect defects in real-time, and thus adapt the system to disturbances. In this work, we provide a systematic review of the literature on current trends in the application of automation for in-line quality inspection with the ultimate objective of achieving ZDM. Additionally, bibliometric and performance analyses have been performed to gain a complete picture of the field. In this work, we have collected bibliometric data from the most widely referred search engines for academic engineering papers, i.e. Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Explorer, involving a total of 145 academic publications from 2011 to 2021. Uniquely for this study, we used three research attributes for the analysis of the selected articles, that is, the level of automation, the condition for quality inspection, and the contribution to ZDM dimensions. The literature suggests that there is a lack of research on the use of in-line detection data for the prediction of defects or repair. Based on the results and our interpretation of the literature, an adapted framework of ZDM (Psarommatis et al., 2020a) and multi-layer quality inspection (Azamfirei et al., 2021a) is presented.

Manufacturing companies around the world are under constant pressure to perform effectively and sustainably. Incidental processes, such as Quality Inspection (QI), are needed to achieve Zero-Defects Manufacturing (ZDM). This study aimed to identify the Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF&E) in the design of advanced automation, QI systems, and ZDM through selected papers and empirical observations. Our presented model is built around the six main dimensions, i.e., top management, manager (project owner), designers, engineers (internal and suppliers), and operators. The commitment of top management, the openness of the manager, the design-friendly nature of the technological system, and the constant updating of knowledge by engineers are important for the success of ZDM. Researchers need to be familiar with cognitive and organisational human factors to align theory with specific cases. Operators face physical and cognitive challenges, and their environment and health must be considered for their successful contribution to the design of advanced QI systems.

Quality management (QM) has shown an impressive ability to update and evolve. The purpose of this paper is to highlight themes that have been identified as vital and important for research projects within QM during the coming decade. The paper is also an attempt to initiate research for the emerging 2030 agenda for QM, here referred to as 'Quality 2030'. This article is based on extensive data gathered during a workshop process conducted in two main steps: (1) a collaborative brainstorming workshop with 22 researchers and practitioners (spring 2019) and (2) an appreciative inquiry summit with 20 researchers and practitioners (autumn 2019). The process produced five collectively elaborated and designed future research themes for QM: (a) systems perspectives applied, (b) stability in change, (c) models for smart self-organising, (d) integrating sustainable development, and (e) higher purpose as QM booster. The process also identified a positive core of QM, defined as core values and aspects in the field and practice that need to be preserved and nurtured in the future.

While employment levels vary, some people tend to remain far from the labour market. Various efforts are made from different public organisations to enhance their employability. Nevertheless, since their problems are usually complex and multi-dimensional, isolated efforts are usually less successful. In an innovative collaboration initiative in a Swedish municipality, a collaboration unit was formed to co-ordinate the efforts of four organisations: the county council, the municipality, the Swedish public employment service and the Swedish social insurance agency. Various activities are carried out intending to strengthen the clients’ overall employability and wellbeing in a holistic way. In previous research, associations between the perceived quality of the organisation people are working in and their reported health status have been identified. However, research into the relationship between the quality of employability enhancing initiatives and client health status is lacking. The purpose of the study is to examine the associations between the health status of people that are excluded from the labour market and the quality of the efforts aimed at increasing their employability. An online questionnaire was developed and answered by 80 participants in the programme. The data was analysed using multivariate statistical methods. Associations between variables measuring health status and experience of the employability enhancing initiatives were examined. The data show that the participants are generally satisfied with the activities of the studied organisation but their self-reported level of health is low. When correlations between the perceived quality of the activity of the initiative and the health status of the clients were measured, few significant associations were found. In contrast, cluster analysis defined four clusters in which the highest reported health scores were found in both the cluster that was most satisfied and the cluster that was least satisfied with the activities. Further research is needed to discover the mechanics behind these results. However, the current study will also be of value for organisations aiming at increasing the employability of people who are far from the labour market.

Many factors contribute to increasing the need for innovation in healthcare. Global demographic developments with falling birth rates and increasing lifespan mean that the proportion of elderly in society is expected to increase dramatically in all developed countries. Moreover, continuous scientific advances afford possibilities for higher effectiveness in healthcare processes. Innovation can and does take place in the form of medical discoveries which enhance the efficiency of treatments or in the form of technological advances, for instance, in ehealth, which provide increased options for healthcare delivery. However, innovation can also be of an organisational nature since healthcare organisations are complex organisations with legal and ethical constraints that are difficult to manage effectively. Organisational innovation requires change processes of various kinds. The purpose of this paper is to explore success factors for innovative change processes in healthcare organisations. Change processes related to digitalisation are of particular interest. Qualitative methodology was chosen in order to gain a deeper understanding of the area and not to exclude aspects based on preconceptions. A multiple case study has been carried out. To achieve focus, the study population was limited to public hospitals in Sweden. Change processes, usually involving digitalisation, in seven hospitals of various sizes have been studied. Individual qualitative interviews were chosen as the method of data collection. Between two and nine interviews were conducted, giving a total of forty interviews. The respondents were people who had participated in the change processes, mainly nurses, physicians, and administrative staff, some of whom had managerial positions on lower levels. The data from the interviews were analysed using the constant comparative method from the grounded theory approach. The analysis yielded a number of categories depicting success factors under different conditions. A framework was constructed depicting the factors and their internal relationships. The categories and the framework should be valuable for managers of healthcare organisations as well as for increasing the conceptual understanding of the field.

Stress and bullying create severe pressure on workplace health. Although the connection between quality management and health is beginning to be well established, the association to workplace stress and workplace bullying has not been previously studied. The purpose of the paper is to examine associations between quality management values, workplace health and workplace stress. A questionnaire based on theory and previous research was constructed and delivered to a sample of Swedish secondary school teachers. The questionnaire included previously developed constructs of quality management values and workplace health. In addition, constructs measuring stress, demand, control and bullying were included. Correlation analyses and cluster analysis were carried out. The findings confirm the connection between quality management and workplace health that previous research has identified. In addition, the results indicate that quality management can increase the level of control that the employees have over their work situation, thereby alleviating some of the effects of workplace stress. Furthermore, the results show an association between quality management and workplace bullying. Moreover, control but not demand was found to be related to workplace health. Four clusters of employees with different quality management, stress and health profiles were identified.

This paper reports a study carried out in the Swedish wellness sector. This is an industry that is expanding in most parts of the world. Nevertheless, only limited amounts of research has been carried out in this industry in contrast to the health sector and the wider hospitality sector which both have attracted substantial amounts of research. Since one of the missions of the wellness industry is to improve the health of thec ustomers, it should be vital that the work environment of the employees is conducive for health. In a separate development, quality management practices have been found to be related to better health among the employees. Dimensions of health promoting quality leadership have been defined in previous research. The purpose of the present study was to identify dimensions of work place health in the wellness industry and relate them to the dimensions of health promoting quality leadership. An empirical study involving seven leading spa hotels in southern and western Sweden has been carried out. The first part of the study was qualitative and consisted of quality cafés carried out at each of the hotels. The quality café is a novel method which has the world café method as its basis, combined with quality management techniques. Between 11 and 16 participants participated in the cafés. Based on the findings from the quality cafés, a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire was returned by 92 employees of the hotels.

The findings from the study include a definition of five major health dimensions for the employees. Happiness, Kinship, Respect, Physical health conditions, Control

In the quantitative phase, the dimensions were found to be statistically consistent and correlated with the self reported health of the respondents. The findings are related to health promotion theory and the health promoting quality leadership dimensions which previous research has defined as: Empathy, Presence and communication, Integrity, Continuity.

Based on the comparative analysis of the two sets of dimensions and the theory within health promotion, a framework for health leadership in the wellness industry is proposed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of integrating the World Café method with the affinity diagram tool from quality management. The proposed combination is called the Quality Café. Quality Cafés were carried out at seven spa hotels, one municipality and two student organisations. The cafés were assessed with feedback seminars and questionnaires. The findings show that the method was appreciated by the participants. It contributed to profound dialogues with deepening insights, which stimulated creativity, increased understanding for quality issues and allowed a more holistic view. In addition, the method was experienced as enjoyable and in itself creating coherence. The findings were related to organisational learning theory and several connections were found. The Quality Café should be a useful method for researchers in social science as well as for practitioners. A limitation is that determining the specific effects of the Quality Café method compared to the original World Café is difficult.

A research project regarding health promotion for school health, in the context of a Waldorf School received grants from the Swedish National Agency for Education. Waldorf pedagogy contains methods different from contemporary pedagogy such as integrating aesthetics and movement together in the learning process. The purpose of the study is twofold. First, to explore and evaluate the methods used in Waldorf pedagogy regarding their effects on health and learning. Second, to evaluate the suitability of the approach and methodologies per see for this kind of study. A case-study has been carried out involving pupils, staff and parents. A verified measurement instrument has been used. It is aimed at measuring health, quality and learning and it was further refined to better fit the present context. Quality dimensions previously identified for pupils and staff were used. Questionnaires were sent with a response rate ranging from 66% to 100%. Based on the questionnaires, pertinent questions were defined and explored in five quality cafés based on the world-café methodology. Feed-back from five focus-group interviews including all of the above-mentioned categories were also collected. In addition, a follow-up questionnaire was sent to co-workers and pupils. The results indicate that the school's activities with their basis in Waldorf pedagogy might have a health-promoting effect, since the school's activities are of high quality and the health of the pupils is generally good. The pupils greatly appreciated the quality cafes which gave them a forum to discuss things thoroughly as well as experiences of being listened to. The focus group interviews revealed that the pupils generally think that the school is good now, even better than before this project. Other perceived effects of the study concern increased team-building, happiness, increased awareness of importance of teachers' health, advantages of serving healthy food for learning and acceptance of each pupil's uniqueness. The study provides a holistic methodology to evaluate health promotion activities in a school project and provides insight into benefits of the Waldorf pedagogy. 

AbstractPurpose - The purpose of the paper is to explore the role of learning and physical exercise foremployee health from a quality management perspective. Possible correlations that exist betweenemployees' health, work-integrated learning, physical exercise and dimensions underlyingleadership commitment and participation are examined. A case study has been undertakenat a highly innovative company in Sweden. An additional aim is to examine the possibilities forimprovements for the company has as it is in an expansive state.Methodology/approach - The empirical data are derived from two focus group interviews withselected employees having different functions in the studied organisation and two in-depth interviews.Additionally, a questionnaire has been completed by all employees that were presentduring a company meeting. The interviews are analysed with a method inspired by groundedtheory. In addition a SWOT-analysis was carried out.Findings - The statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between the employees' healthand the dimensions development and being informed. Significant correlation was also found betweenthe employees' health and physical exercise during working hours as well as betweenemployee health and work integrated learning. Moreover, the interviews gave insights into theimportant role that physical exercise during the working day has for employee well-being.Research limitation/implication - Since this is a case study the possibility to generalise thefindings outside the company may be limited.Originality/value - The connection between employee health, work-integrated learning andphysical exercise for employees has not been very well examined in previous research.

The purpose of this paper is to explore service quality in classical music, to relate the findings to the essence of Beauty that Kant, Plato and others describe and to discuss the implications for practice and research regarding aesthetical organisations. Some of the views of Beauty held by Plato and Kant are described and related to the theories of service quality, particularly the fundamental premises of the service dominant logic of marketing. An empirical study has been carried out at the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. In-depth interviews with members of the orchestra have provided qualitative data that have been analysed. The musicians’ views of quality in classical music are described. The findings are related to the philosophical theories of beauty and to the service quality theory. A model of quality dimensions in classical music is proposed. The findings of the study provide a vantage point for better understanding of the relationship between aesthetics and service quality. Service quality in music has not previously been studied and related to aesthetical theory. A limitation is that the study has only been carried out in one orchestra in one country. For managers of organisations with aesthetic activities, the study provides guidance into how service quality can be seen and handled.

Even though much research has been carried out regarding various sustainability issues, the research into cultural aspects of sustainability and quality is very limited. The purpose of this study is to explore the culture of an award-winning company that is successfully working with sustainability and quality. The ambition is to contribute to the development of sustainable quality management. In order to identify and describe their ways of working, a case study was carried out at Sky Factory, an award-winning innovative manufacturing company which utilises Lean principles. In-depth interviews were performed with the CEO and a number of employees focusing on exploring their way of working as well as their value base, attitudes and practices regarding quality and sustainability. The data collection also included document studies and observation. The research was inductive, based on the Grounded Theory methodology and the data was analysed with the constant comparative technique. The analysis revealed a set of categories in the form of dimensions which, combined with theory, resulted in a tentative framework. One limitation is that the study only included a single company, which may limit the possibilities for generalisation. Nonetheless, the dimensions that were identified and the framework that integrates them should be useful as a vantage point for further research.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore dimensions of customer perceptions of factors important for a quality experience in the SPA industry and to assess service quality implications for these dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study involved seven Swedish SPA hotels. The first part was qualitative, consisting of seven focus-group interviews with hotel guests. In addition, service providers’ perceptions of customer quality were collected through seven quality cafés. The qualitative parts were analysed with the constant comparative technique from the grounded theory approach. Based on the findings from the interviews, a questionnaire was delivered to 400 randomly accessed women. The responses were analysed with exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis.

Findings

The focus-group interviews showed that the customers’ perception of quality could be expressed in the following dimensions: physical effects, mental effects, pleasure and flexibility. The dimensions for customer quality seen from the staff’s perspective were treatments, climate and the SPA facility itself. The exploratory factor analysis defined the following underlying factors: enjoyment, treatments, practicality, fitness, cost and calm. The cluster analysis resulted in four groups of customer profiles: the more of everything group, the enjoyers, the savers and the fitness freaks.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is that the study has only been carried out in one country. The main implication for research is a better understanding of quality dimensions and perceptions of service quality in the SPA industry.

Practical implications

The study provides a comprehensive insight into the dimensions of quality for SPA visitors. Moreover, four distinct groups of customers have been identified. This knowledge should be useful for SPA managers.

Originality/value

Only limited amounts of research have previously been carried out in the SPA industry. The paper provides a framework depicting perceptions of quality dimensions in SPA hotels.

The connection between well-functioning quality management and competitiveness has been established. Moreover, research has found that the success of quality management efforts is dependent on the values held by management and employees in the organisations. Consequently, there is a connection to organisational culture and organisational learning. Quality management is sometimes accused of only promoting incremental improvements while entrepreneurial learning is seen as a way of promoting truly innovative improvements in organisations. Combining entrepreneurial learning and quality management is, however, not obvious since they have aspects that may be contradictory. Nevertheless, organisational learning theories are often addressed in recent quality management literature and such attempts have often been found to be fruitful. Consequently, introducing entrepreneurial learning aspects in the quality management field might further its development. Exploring ways of combining these fields and perhaps finding a common ground should thus be valuable. The study reported in this paper has been carried out in the Swedish spa-industry. The purpose has been to explore if and how entrepreneurial learning can contribute to the management of quality in the companies. Case studies have been carried out at seven leading spa-hotels which have formed a learning network. Qualitative methods of data collection have been used including in-depth interviews, participant observation, seminars and a novel method called the quality café. The results are presented and a framework for entrepreneurial learning driven quality management is proposed.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine gender differences regarding the experience of workplace health and quality management. In this context, we include some factors of work environment that have previously been shown to be related to health such as workplace learning, stress, flow and sense of coherence. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire based on previous research was constructed. It was delivered to a population of Swedish upper secondary school teachers. Three hundred eleven responses were returned. They were analysed for gender differences with t-tests and chi-square tests. Findings The results show that women's experience of their health is worse than men's despite having a generally better experience of the quality management values, workplace learning and flow. Moreover, women experience more stress, and they are more often subjected to sexual harassment while men more frequently had been exposed to physical violence. Research limitations/implications - The study has implications for research in that it indicates that although women have better experiences of many of the factors that previous research has shown to be related to workplace health, their health is actually worse. A limitation is that the response rate was low. Practical implications - The findings should be useful for managers attempting to improve the workplace health of their staff. The finding that women report less health than men even though experiencing quality management values more, means that women's health need a particular focus in secondary schools. Originality/value The connection between health and quality management has not been previously studied from a gender perspective.

Purpose An innovative technology called consciousness-based education (CBE) is being introduced in schools worldwide. The approach includes both an experiential and an intellectual component. However, research studies exploring learning in CBE are rare. The purpose of the paper is to explore how organizational learning takes place in schools, which adopt CBE in addition to their ordinary curriculum. Moreover, the ambition of the approach regarding quality is examined. Methodology/approach A multiple-case study has been carried out. Four schools using CBE have been studied: a private school in Fairfield, Iowa, USA; a governmentally funded free school in Skelmersdale, United Kingdom; an independent school in Melbourne, Australia, and a primary school in Lelystad, the Netherlands. In total, 26 in-depth interviews have been performed, mainly with teachers and students but also with principals and experts in the CBE pedagogy. In addition, three focus-group interviews with primary school pupils were conducted and observation during classes was included. The data were analyzed by the constant comparative technique from the grounded theory approach. Findings Categories characterizing organizational learning in the CBE schools have been identified. These findings are related to theories of the learning organization, resulting in a framework depicting different components of learning. Research limitation/implication - The study provides a framework illustrating organizational learning in schools that utilize CBE which affords an overview of the technology and can serve as a vantage point for further research. Since this is a qualitative case study, the effectiveness of the CBE approach and its impact on learning outcomes were not assessed, and the possibilities to generalize the findings are limited. Originality/value CBE has not previously been studied from an organizational learning perspective.

Purpose: In previous research, quality management practices have been found to be related to better health for employees. Dimensions of health-promoting quality leadership have been defined. The purpose of this study was to identify dimensions of workplace health in the wellness industry and relate them to the dimensions of health-promoting quality leadership. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical study involving seven leading spa-hotels in Sweden has been carried out. The first part of the study consisted of quality cafés carried out at each of the hotels. The quality café is a novel method, which has the World Café-method as its basis, combined with quality management techniques. Based on the findings from the quality cafés, an employee survey was developed. Findings: The findings from the study include a definition of five major health dimensions for the employees, namely, happiness, kinship, respect, physical health conditions and control. The dimensions were found to be statistically consistent and correlated with the self-reported health of the respondents. Research limitations/implications: The findings are related to health promotion theory and the dimensions of health-promoting quality leadership. A framework for health leadership in the wellness industry is proposed. The study was only carried out in one country. Practical implications: The framework and the findings should be useful for managers, particularly in the wellness sector, when designing their operations and health promotion activities. Originality/value: Workplace health in the wellness sector, which is growing worldwide, is very scarcely researched. © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to examine variables to be included in a measurement instrument which measures workplace learning related to recent research into quality management and brain functioning. Design/methodology/approach - A literature review was conducted, investigating measures of workplace learning as well as the connections between brain functioning and management. Further studies will use the brain integration scale to compare levels of brain integration with measures of workplace learning. Findings - The variables “empathy”, “presence and communication”, “continuity”, “influence”, “development”, “work-integrated learning” and “flow” were found to be relevant from the literature review to be tested for inclusion in the measurement instrument. A measurement model with these variables included has been developed. Research limitations/implications - This paper is conceptual in its nature. Empirical studies are needed to validate the propositions. Practical implications - The proposed measurement instrument can be used by managers to gain insight into underlying mechanisms in the organizational culture that influence employees’ learning and potential for development. Thus, it can aid managers to achieve profound learning in their organizations, which is necessary for continuously maintaining high quality of products and services. Social implications - For society, the implementation of the proposed measurement instrument in companies could lead to better health and higher job satisfaction among employees. Originality/value - Traditional ways of measuring working environment are rarely connected to brain functioning of the employees. Only requiring small resources, this approach adds to an understanding of underlying mechanisms.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore possible connections between brain functioning and quality management. Design/methodology/approach: Five central principles regarding brain functioning according to neuroscience are conceptually described and related to principles and major concepts in quality management with a special emphasis on Deming’s system of profound knowledge. Findings: The principles are shown to be related in a profound way. The first principle of coherence is closely related to appreciation for a system. The principle of homeostatic feedback loops concerns events that disturb the equilibrium of a system and is related to knowledge about variation. Neural plasticity is related to a theory of knowledge. The last two principles involve emotional and cognitive contributions to decision-making. They are closely related to the element psychology and one of them could lead to a further development of Deming’s system of profound knowledge. Research limitations/implications: The paper adds to the understanding of the role brain integration has for success in quality management efforts. A limitation is that it is difficult to localise higher-order thinking in brain function. Nonetheless, the research is indicative and provocative as a window to stimulate research into the fundamental basis of quality management success. Practical implications: The findings provide a deeper understanding of profound knowledge in quality management through relating it to how the brain is functioning, which is of value for quality managers and leaders striving for excellence for their organisations. Originality/value: The connection of brain principles with Deming’s profound knowledge has not been elaborated in the literature before. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.