MIDLAND, MI—An international research study of companies has revealed that corporate executives perceive that total quality management has been the most significant business innovation for their companies.

Findings of the study, conducted on behalf of Dow Corning Corp. by HI Europe, show that 40% of executives surveyed rank total quality management as the most important business innovation for their organizations in the past three years. Respondents included 691 executives from a range of industries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.