This research aims to identify the main trends in the implementation of Quality Programs in Brazilian companies and is based on the most widely known and implemented models, such as the certification of quality systems according to the ISO 9000 Program, the Six Sigma and the TQM Program (Total Quality Management Program). This study provides a comparative and critical analysis of the implementation of those systems in Brazilian organizations as well as the existing relations among them, their complementary and redundancies. This issue is extremely relevant nowadays as companies invest heavily in different programs in order to improve quality, but still face huge difficulties to evaluate their strategic impact as well as their respective added value. In order to carry out this study, we have evaluated the references available about the subject. The methodology used in this research was based on a quantitative survey. The population of this search consists of a list the 1000 top Brazilian companies ranked according to their published sales figures according to "Ranking Valor 1.000", published in Valor Econômico yearbook (2004). This analysis assumed that new emerging quality management models could be found in this list Responses to questionnaires and to interviews made during visits to those companies were analyzed employing a statistical software. The analysis points out that the companies had implemented the Six Sigma Program are those with the strongest tradition in quality programs since they had earlier implemented other quality programs; as more the companies invest in quality programs more is the improvement in their performance; and the main causes for failures in ISO 9000, Six Sigma and TQM programs implementation were due to lack of financial resources for a correct implementation and a fragile support provided by the company management team.
quality programs; Six Sigma; ISO 9000; TQM
