Effect of the total quality management on production planning control: An application work for dairy companies that operate in the food sector in Balıkesir province

The primary objective of this study is to examine the reason for why some enterprises implement Total Quality Management (TQM) as a management philosophy and some do not while determining the comparative effects of this strategy on production planning and control. This study consists of three parts, the first two of which is reserved for theoretical knowledge and the final part for the assessment of an application work.The first chapter presents theoretical information regarding the transition from the concept of ?quality? to ?TQM? and ?ISO 9000?. The second chapter attempts to explain such subjects as production management, production planning and control issues as well as their relations with TQM. The third chapter accounts for an application work which essentially relates to the effects of TQM on production planning/control for dairy companies that operate in the food sector in Balıkesir province.The data used in this study has been collected from dairy companies that operate in the food sector in Balıkesir province. The data has then been subjected to statistical analysis by using SPSS and the results obtained have been assessed in tables.In the conclusion section of this study, the reasons for why some companies implement TQM and some do not are identified. The same results have also made it possible to compare and contrast companies which, within the framework of production planning and control, apply and do not apply TQM. Similarities and differences have been found to emerge especially in areas of production planning, productivity, product defects, suppliers, ordering and customer complaints.