Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Diane Dusick
Abstract
The cost of nonconformance of parts can impact the aerospace industry globally, resulting in revenue loss and consumer confidence degradation. Grounded in the eight disciplines of problem solving, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies aerospace manufacturing quality managers in the United States used to implement successful change initiatives to address the nonconformance of parts. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with four aerospace quality executives and supporting company documents. Data were analyzed using methodological triangulation, coding, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) identify and implement a specific problem-solving strategy, (b) identify and mitigate employee resistance, (c) identify and exploit collaboration, and (d) identify and leverage leadership commitment. Key recommendations are to develop a culture of quality excellence within the aerospace industry and develop effective problem-solving strategies using the eight disciplines of problem-solving techniques. This action is achieved by identifying the right problem-solving tool, using effective communication to mitigate employee resistance to change, emphasizing solution validation, and ensuring leadership commitment originating from the highest levels of the organization. The implications for social change include the potential to save lives and positively affect society’s perceptions of public safety regarding air travel by reducing airline transportation fatalities directly related to the quality failure of aircraft parts.
Recommended Citation
Lloyd Jr, John Louis, "Strategies to Reduce Nonconformance of Parts in Aerospace Manufacturing" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13036.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13036
