This monographic work seeks to give a clear definition of quality management and propose a means of measuring its implementation, so we can gauge to what extent such practices can positively influence the operating profitability of companies opting to develop an integrated quality management model.

This work is the result of a research project promoted by the BBVA Foundation to analyze the penetration in Spanish industry of new forms of work and production organization, and to gauge their impact on competitiveness.

There have been published two more books as result of this investigation:

• Los  desafíos de la competitividad. La innovación organizativa y tecnológica en la empresa española (2003)
• El pago de incentivos en la empresa industrial española (2003).