Total Quality Management Paper

Essay by shiney23University, Bachelor'sB+, May 2010

download word file, 3 pages 0.0

Total Quality Management � PAGE �1�

Total Quality Management

A paper submitted in the course of

Quality Management and Productivity MGT/449

Total Quality Management

Total Quality Management, TQM, is a method by which management and employees participate in a continuous improvement process, products, and services. Total Quality Management is a step towards improving overall quality performance in a company. It is a combination of quality and management tools aimed at increasing business and reducing losses due to wasteful practices (Burrill, 1999).

Total Quality Management is a management approach that originated in the 1950s and has steadily become more popular in the US since the early 1980s (iSixSigma, 2008). TQM has been very popular in Europe. TQM has been widely used in manufacturing plants, education establishments, government, military, non-profit industries and service industries. Companies who have implemented TQM include Ford Motor Company, Phillips Semiconductor, SGL Carbon, Motorola and Toyota Motor Company.

The methods for implementing this approach come from the teachings of such quality leaders as Philip B. Crosby, W. Edwards Deming, Armand V. Feigenbaum, Kaoru Ishikawa and Joseph M. Juran. William Deming was an American professor and author.

Deming introduced Statistical Process Control (SPC) in Japan in 1950. He believed that management is responsible to send the message that quality is valued. Deming taught top management how to improve product quality, testing, design and sales. The Japanese asked W, Edward Deming to help the Japanese improve their economy which was torn after the war. Deming helped by implementing principles of total quality management and Japan experienced a dramatic economic growth.

In the 1980s, the United States started to see a reduction in its own world market share. America looked towards Deming's knowledge for help. Quality management experts, Joseph Juran and Philip Crosby contributed to the development of...