Quality Tale - News on Technology: TQM

Showing posts with label TQM. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

11 Fundamental Requiremetns of TQM : Part-II

In accordance to Part-I, we have to consider following things also :

7. Define the purpose of each department and activity in terms of satisfying external and internal customer requirements.

Possible Actions:

• Functional analysis

8. Enable the employees to fulfill their commitment to quality by influencing the programme of continuous improvement.

Possible Actions:

• Education and Training
• Communication
• Corrective action task force, corrective actions groups
• Error cause removal schemes
• Quality circles
• Problem solving
• SPC
• Recognition of performance
• Suggestion programmes
• Self inspection programmes

9. Whenever possible replace the inspection and correction techniques of quality control with the preventive actions.

Possible Actions:

• Quality cost analysis
• Functional analysis
• Quality management system
• Error cause removal schemes
• Quality circles
• Problem solving
• Suggestions programmes

10. Never accept a non-conforming output in the form of a product for external of internal customers.

Possible Actions:

• Quality cost analysis
• Functional analysis
• Education and training
• Communication

11. Plan effectively before undertaking any actions.

Possible Actions:

• Quality improvement team

It is apparent that there is no end to improvement. The recognition of the necessity to continuously revise the quality thinking is essential to the ultimate success of business ventures. Having once embarked on the quality path, one quickly realizes that improvement is always possible and necessary.

In fact, TQM is not the LAST WORD in quality thinking. New methods will be added and new concepts may emerge.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

11 Fundamental Requirements of TQM : Part - I

Guys, What to do with External and Internal Customers? What are the possible actions? Your answers (might) right here!

Following are the 11 fundamental requirements of TQM and its possible actions :

1. Know your customers, both external and internal : Who they are, their current needs, and
their future requirements. Respond to their changing needs. Do not forget the users.

Possible Actions:

Customer surveys
Functional analysis
Quality cost analysis
Quality function deployment

2. Know your competitors.

Possible Actions:

Customer surveys
Competitor analysis
Bench marking

3. Know the cost of nonconformance (CONC)

Possible Actions:

Quality cost analysis
Functional analysis

4. Measure performance against key customer driven parameters.

Possible Actions:

Customer surveys
Competitor analysis
Bench marking

5. Make sure that each employee understands and commits themselves to the Quality objectives of the business.

Possible Actions:

Functional analysis
Education and training
Communication

6. Management commitment to continuous improvement of quality within business.

Possible Actions:

Quality cost analysis
Functional analysis
Education and training
Communication

Monday, November 12, 2007

TQM Concept

TQM is a relatively new concept and it is indeed a revolution in quality philosophy. Today's quality is not just concerned with whether or not the product meets the defined requirements. Today’s quality is much more than that. All organizations provide a service of product supply. Therefore the modern concept of quality embraces how the company meets all their customer’s requirements and expectations, including how they are greeted on the telephone, the speed of reply, courtesy of the staff, correctness of invoicing, etc. Every contact with the customer builds the picture of the sort of company the customer is dealing with and forms his perception of the quality of service.

Product conformance therefore is not the end; it is just the beginning of the quest for quality. The quest for a Total Quality Organization.The concept of TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT originates from his broadened understanding of quality.

There are 3 basic elements or assumptions on which the TQM concept is based. No one in the organization is excluded, and everyone participates in implementing quality and has an impact on the customer’s perception of quality and appreciation by society.

It is also not only the external customer that needs to be satisfied but internal customers must be satisfied as well. Therefore the organization is viewed as a series of customer supplier relationships. (e.g. Stores are supplier for production, production is supplier for sales, manager for the secretary and vice-versa, etc.)

Appreciation of the organization by society may and often does play a vital role in securing the success of the business.

Now, it is endless to say that TQM requires total and unconditional commitment, which must start from the top. Quality really starts in the chairman’s office (it should not however end there).

Successful companies that operate a Quality Management System employ some of the elements of TQM. The company must determine whether or not to operate TQM. By instituting Continuous Quality Improvement they may develop a leading edge in TOTAL QUALITY CIRCLE.