Analysing the effect of quality certificates in the defense industry

The increasing number of companies with quality certificates brings to mind the question of whether there is a relationship between having a quality certificate and providing quality products or services. The fact that companies can access instruments such as training, consultancy and current situation analysis in the certification process provides convenience in the certification stages of the companies. The effect of quality certificates on firm performance from different perspectives has been investigated extensively in the past research papers. Research results can be classified under two main groups. Some claim that there is a relationship between firm performance and quality certificates; and others claim that there is no relationship. This difference of opinion has caused the relationship between quality certificates and quality to be questioned again in the study. It is essential to provide quality and faultless products and services for the defense industry sector, which is developing rapidly in economic and technological terms. For this reason, the quality management system has a great importance in the defense industry sector. In this research, which was carried out with data obtained from a company operating in the defense industry, the relationship between suppliers having ISO 9001 Quality Management System, AS 9100 Aviation, Space and Defense Industry Quality Management System standards and their offering of quality products or services was questioned. In the study, the data of 147 different suppliers were examined, hypotheses were established to question the relationship between quality certificates and quality. The accuracy of these hypotheses was checked with appropriate difference tests and correlation analysis methods. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the awareness of companies serving in the Turkish Defense Industry regarding quality and quality management systems. The originality of this study stems from the fact that it is the first known study to investigate the relationship between quality certificates and the phenomenon of quality in the defense industry. In line with the Total Quality Management principles underlying quality certificates, the relationship between standard items and quality phenomenon was examined. According to the findings of the study, it has been determined that there is a difference between having a quality certificate and carrying out an efficient quality management system. It was concluded that having a certificate can be a good first step in establishing a quality management system, but then the system should be run and adopted by the employees with their own contribution and support. The process steps required for the certification process and the establishment of the quality management system have been explained and recommendations have been made based on the quality standard.