Comparison between TQM and GE-6:
The author reviewed several studies, and selected the appropriate criteria used in these researches, and then integrated into 12 dimensions. They are:
1. development;
2. principles;
3. features;
4. operation;
5. focus;
6. practices;
7. techniques;
8. leadership;
9. rewards;
10. training;
11. change; and
12. Culture
Total quality management:
A. TQM programs are usually based on the ‘quality philosophies’-- customer focus, employee participation, teamwork, and management by facts and continuous improvement (Brown, 1992). TQM is therefore an integrated management philosophy and set of practices that emphasize increased employee involvement and teamwork, continuous improvement, meeting customers’ requirements, team-based problem-solving, constant measurement of results, closer relationship with suppliers, and so on (Ross, 1993).
B. Short and Rahim (1995) have agreed that TQM can be viewed as a set of philosophies and methods used by an organization to guide it in continuous improvement in all aspects of its business.
C. McAdam and McKeown (1999) have concluded that customer focus, employee involvement, empowerment, teamwork, measurement tools, training, quality systems, and top management commitment are all key factors in the successful implementation of TQM.
D. Boaden (1997) also examine the critical elements of TQM based on some early studies. It is worthwhile to refer to the research of Sila & Ebrahimpour (2002), they conduct a huge Investigation of elements of TQM survey based on 347 researches published between 1989and 2000.
E. These views indicate that, although various researchers approach the issues of TQM from different perspectives, there is a general consensus regarding the essential principles practices, and values of TQM (Hellsten & Klefsjö, 2000). On the basis of these various approaches, especially the research of Sila & Ebrahimpour (2002) and Yang (2003a), the present subsection asserts the following to be essential agreed elements of TQM:
1. Customer focus and satisfaction
2. Training and education
3. Top management commitment, support, and leadership
4. Teamwork
5. Employee involvement
6. Quality assurance
7. Quality information system and application
8. Continuous improvement
9. Flexibility
10. Benchmarking and strategy planning
11. Process management
12. Product and service design and quality control
13. Employee management and empowerment
14. Corporate quality culture
