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TQM, why you should consider it
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management manufacturing strategy.The purpose of TQM is to increase awareness of quality in all parts of the organization's processes.This management style is more one that reflects the culture of the company rather than specific manufacturing processes used on the plan floor.Total Quality Management is a way to improve how people work through management's implementation of a variety of management styles that are aimed at finding ways to continuously improve the production of goods in a business while at the same time reducing losses.
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All of these fancy words and definitions are well and good, but you may be asking yourself whether or not this type of management style is right for you.While there may very well be situations where TQM is not the best option, it may set your mind at ease to know that some of the biggest and most successful manufacturing businesses in the world have adopted and benefited from Total Quality Management.Among those who have implemented are Ford Motor Company, Phillips Semiconductor, SGL Carbon, Motorola and Toyota Motor Company.
Total Quality Management is not meant to be the cure all for management problems.There will be those whose management style may conflict with the principles of TQM, but the great majority of managers who are able to share the same organizational goals will be able to implement TQM with little disruption to current methods.But TQM is not just about the management.Managers are only as good as the workers that they train and supervise.It is the combined goal of managers and workers in a TQM environment to complete a process in as little time and with as little waste as possible.Everyone must play their part in making sure that the production of the company's good is done right the first time and every time thereafter.
Total Quality Management is something that would be valuable for your company to at least consider because of the foundation that TQM can create for other activities in a lean manufacturing environment.For example, it is TQM that is the foundation for company commitment to perfection on a managerial level and then on an employee level.TQM is the foundation for meeting customer requirements, reducing development cycle times, Just In Time/Demand Flow Manufacturing, reducing product and service costs, systems to facilitate improvement, and employee involvement and empowerment through increased morale.
The key principles of TQM are as follows:
- Management Commitment
- Plan (drive, direct)
- Do (deploy, support, participate)
- Check (review)
- Act (recognize, communicate, revise)
- Employee Empowerment
- Training
- Suggestion scheme
- Measurement and recognition
- Excellence teams
- Fact Based Decision Making
- SPC (statistical process control)
- DOE, FMEA
- The 7 statistical tools
- TOPS (FORD 8D - Team Oriented Problem Solving)
- Continuous Improvement
- Systematic measurement and focus on CONQ
- Excellence teams
- Cross-functional process management
- Attain, maintain, improve standards
- Customer Focus
- Supplier partnership
- Service relationship with internal customers
- Never compromise quality
- Customer driven standards
Note again that all of these TQM principles have applicability to the human aspect of a business and how it is people who run the production line; not just machines.It is this focus that is at the heart of TQM and what makes this management strategy unlike any other in the lean manufacturing process.Ultimately, the principles of TQM are worth considering because there is always room for improvement and where you can find improvement, you can find improved business and no business person would knowingly pass up the opportunity to make his or her business better than it was before.
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