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The data-based regression models are widely popular in modelling the relationship between the crash frequencies and contributing factors. However, one common problem usually associated with the classical regression models is the multicollinearity, which leads to biased estimation of the model coefficients. This paper mainly focuses on the consequences of multicollinearity and introduces a multiple objective-based best-subset approach for promoting the accuracy of the road crash model in Qatar State. The prediction performance of the methodology is verified through a comparative study with two of well-known time series models, namely autoregressive moving average (ARMA) and double exponential smoothing (DES). The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is used to assess the ability of each model in maintaining minimum prediction errors. The methodology is illustrated by using a data set of road crashes in Qatar State, 2007-2013. Scopus

This paper presents the results of a study to identify the real motives behind ISO 9000 Certification. Towards this goal, a survey of some 300 ISO 9000 certified companies has been carried out for Malaysian manufacturing companies. Statistical tests on its relationship with performance improvement and the overall benefits and the barriers on gaining ISO 9000 certification are done. The paper also reveals other factors influencing the performance of ISO 9000, for example, the period of time after the company has been certified and size of company. Finally, factor analysis is applied to identify the main factors in certification motives, benefits, barriers, and their in-between relationship.

The main purpose of this paper is to assess the experience of different organisations in the state of Qatar upon adopting the ISO 9000:2000 quality management standard. It is required to report the available motives, achieved benefits, difficulties encountered and success factors from adopting the standard among certified organisations, and obstacles from its adoption among non-certified organisations. The data collected for the research is from 47 certified organisations utilising a closed ended survey questionnaire. Among the most significant findings is the overall positive notion that the companies in the state of Qatar believe in the benefits and importance of adopting the ISO 9000:2000 standard. Most of these companies are convinced to adopt the standard as a result of its importance to improve process performance/product quality rather than pressure from external customers. In addition, it is proven through the context of this paper that utilising foreign consultants during the certification process to aid companies' staff help to resolve the main difficulty with the certification process that is the cultural change. Last but not the least, lack of time and lack of human resources were considered by the non-certified companies as the main obstacles for getting certified.

This paper has presented the results of a study on Critical Success Factors for Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation in UK organisations. A survey instrument (10 Success Factors) developed by Yusof and Aspinwall for use in the automotive sector was used after some modification. The findings have supported previous study and validated the instrument as a reliable tool. The results indicated that the Manufacturing sectors in UK is embarked towards quality excellence. Suggestions were made to replicate the study in some developing countries.

There is growing concern about why some organisations fail in their attempts to implement TQM and so few gain the benefits of such implementation. The literature often points to the constraining effects of an organisation's culture as a major barrier. Few studies, however, link organisational culture and TQM implementation. In short, understanding the relationship between an organisation's culture and TQM philosophy can provide a greater insight into the TQM implementation process. A well known framework for an organisational model, the Competing Values Framework (CVF), was used to identify the ideal cultural profile for TQM implementation. A questionnaire using the CVF, was sent to "Quality Experts" in the UK to help identify the ideal cultural characteristics that they believed would support the TQM philosophy and facilitate its implementation. The findings indicated that the ideal cultural characteristics in the context of TQM can be classified as a group and developmental culture. Its characteristics tend to be flexible and customer oriented which emphasises participation, innovation, concern for human resource development and an attempt to decentralise decision making. This paper shows that the CVF can be a useful tool in helping organisations study the change needed to reach a desired quality culture.