Introduction:
The Quality Journey tears down outdated management pyramids, arguing instead for the need to build a whole new management pyramid one which can live up to the vision and challenges inherent in the definition of TQM. Management at all levels and in all departments just could not see that ‘total quality’ can only be achieved with the active participation of management. An apt name for this pyramid would be the TQM pyramid.
Principles of TQM:
TQM is characterized by five principles:
1. Management’s commitment (leadership);
2. Focus on the customer and the employee;
3. Focus on facts;
4. Continuous improvements (KAIZEN);
5. Everybody’s participation.
MANAGEMENT’S COMMITMENT:
Deming’s seven principles:
1. Management must agree about goals, conditions and obstacles to the introduction of TQM.
2. Management must have the courage to break with tradition.
Fig:Management’s commitment (leadership)
3. In building up a new ‘quality organization’, management must appoint a manager for quality improvements who has direct access to top management.
4. Management must, as quickly as possible, build up an organization to advise on the carrying out of continuous improvements throughout the firm.
5. Management must explain to employees why changes are necessary and that they will involve everybody in the company.
6. Management must explain that every activity and every job has its own customers and suppliers.
7. Management must ensure that every employee in the company participates actively in a team (work team, quality circle).
The above points implicitly include all four sides of the TQM pyramid.