TQM dimension in the RMAF internal supply chain management: analysis on Center for Aerospace and Engineering Service (CAESE)

The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) depends on external and internal supply chain to support its operation. One of the important organisations in RMAF is the Centre of Aerospace Engineering Services (CAESE) that functioned as the center of expertise for Research and Development. The RMAF depends on CAESE for sustainable design and development to lessen the dependencies on the foreign aircraft and system manufacturer, for specialized support and modernization. CAESE provides the technical support, maintenance support and predictive maintenance to RMAF squadrons to ensure that RMAF’s aircraft will always meet with operational requirement and readiness. As demands grows due to the progressive nature of aircraft ageing, and increasing of operational requirement, CAESE had been challenged by the limited resources of personnel, materials, and equipment in continuing supporting RMAF’s squadrons with efficient and effective technical solutions. The RMAF supply support was threatened with disruptions, delays, inaccuracy and substandard quality of products and services, that caused the RMAF sustainable design and development support degradation, that further reduced RMAF capacity and capability. This research paper seeks to analyse the issues of supply support in CAESE focusing on the supply chain management and the application of total quality management principles and dimensions to help mitigate and find innovative solutions. The qualitative study had analysed the documented data from CAESE’s records and supported by interviews and substantiate with secondary data from available literatures and journals. The results showed a significant and positive relation of total quality management dimensions consist of leadership commitment, customer focus, employee participation, continuous improvement and innovation, and training and education, towards improvement in the supply chain flexibility, efficiency, performance, and cost reduction, with compliance to the airworthiness regulatory standards. These findings may help RMAF to identify the important factors in assisting future policy and regulatory development for a better supply supportability in its organisations.