Publication performance and trends in Total Quality Management research: a bibliometric analysis

The aim of this paper is to provide scholars and practitioners with a comprehensive view of the extant literature on TQM. The method of bibliometric analysis is used to highlight the advances in research, the results achieved by previous studies, the gaps in the literature and the most current trends. The results show publication outputs of countries, institutes, journals, and research fields, the most cited authors and works, the most used keywords and the research trends. This work provides scholars with a systematization of the TQM research field and suggestions on how to contribute to the advancement of research on this topic. For practitioners, this paper offers an outline of the most important and current research results from which to obtain insights about techniques and strategies that best suit the implementation of TQM in their organisations.