TQM principles, goals and objectives

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The quality of management and applied business processes determines how far the organization will advance in the modern market for the sale of goods and services. There are many methods of improving the work of the company, which, to one degree or another, can improve the quality of the product, increase sales, reduce costs, etc.

The following article is devoted to the basic principles of the concept of TQM, which is widely used among managers around the world. Below you will find out what TQM is, what its goals and objectives are, as well as a detailed description of its fundamental elements.

TQM: description and definition

The term TQM was originally introduced in the 60s to refer to the Japanese method of enterprise management. This approach was based on the continuous improvement of the various constituent elements of the company, such as production, organization of activities, procurement of raw materials, marketing, etc.

TQM stands for Total Quality Management. The principles of such management are key in such a concept, the main of whichthe following:

1. Customer orientation.
2. Involving employees in the life of the organization.
3. Process approach.
4. Unity of the system.
5. Strategic and systematic approach.
6. Continuous improvement.
7. Make decisions based on facts only.
8. Communications.

It is important to note that TQM is a specific approach that includes principles, methods and tools for analyzing all issues in the management of an organization. The goal of TQM is to improve the quality of an organization's performance, while this concept aims to satisfy the customer and bring benefits to all stakeholders, which are employees, suppliers, management, etc.

After having considered the definition, goals and objectives, it is necessary to dwell separately on each of the basic principles of TQM.

Principle 1: Customer Focus

Any company cannot function normally in the market if it does not have customers (customers), so management should pay due attention to this issue. This TQM principle says that the organization and its staff should meet the requirements of customers and try to exceed their expectations.

Customer orientation requires a systematic approach to understanding customer needs, which includes the collection of claims and complaints. Regular analysis of such information will help to avoid repeating certain mistakes in the future.

Principle 2: Engage Employeesorganizations

When implementing the principles of the TQM concept in an organization, it should be remembered that the involvement of personnel plays a significant role in this process. All employees, from senior staff to lower-level employees, should be involved in quality management.

This principle of TQM is based on the fact that the activities and goals of each employee correspond to the goals of the company as much as possible. In this case, the encouragement of employees in group work plays a big role, as work efficiency increases significantly.

Principle 3: Process Approach

As you know, a process is a set of specific actions. In the case of production, or rather, in the course of its activities, processes are transformed into a certain result of work. All processes can only be implemented through business functions.

A similar TQM principle provides for company management, which is divided into two levels:

• managing each process;
• total management of an organization (a group of business processes).

Principle 4: System integrity

Most companies are made up of many elements, which are divisions, departments, workshops or specific officials. In general, the activity of these elements creates a result, which can be a product or service that has value for both the company and consumers.

In order for this principle of TQM in quality management to be implemented, it is necessary that all activitieselements of the company were interconnected and did not contradict each other. However, this moment requires constant monitoring and education among employees of a general culture of quality in order to be able to detect deviations in time and direct actions in the right direction.

Principle 5: Be strategic and systematic

As noted by experts, this principle of TQM in the school of management is the most significant, since constant work on improving quality should be part of all the company's strategic plans. Achieving the desired results in this direction is possible only through continuous work, where all actions are systematized.

Principle 6: Continuous Improvement

When implementing the concept of total quality management, management must continuously assess emerging problems, analyze their causes and take a number of necessary actions that should be aimed at correcting and preventing problems. Thanks to such constant work, the organization's performance is improved and customer satisfaction is maximized. In this principle of TQM, it is important to remember that it is the management that should accompany this process under their sensitive guidance, which, in turn, will ensure a timely response and help achieve the goals.

Principle 7: Make Fact-Based Decisions

Any decision must be reasoned and supported by reliablefacts. The sources of data on the basis of which this or that decision is made can be analyzes of complaints, suggestions regarding product quality or any other information that is related to the activities of the company.

Special attention in this principle is paid to the analysis of ideas that come from the employees of the organization, as they see the work from the inside and can compare it with the conditions of the external environment. For example, a member of the purchasing department may make a proposal to change the supplier of raw materials, which will help reduce costs, and the manager must consider whether this will entail any production difficulties.

Principle 8: Communication

Communications play a big role in the work of any company. Management should remember that communicating information to and receiving feedback from staff helps keep staff motivated at all levels. In the event of any changes that have taken place or are to come, all participants must be notified in a timely manner so that their activities do not contradict anything.

TQM Implementation

Due to the fact that each company is unique in its own way, there is no general rule for implementing the TQM concept. However, the following main elements of the methodology for the implementation of total quality management are distinguished:

1. Management should adopt the philosophy of this concept and communicate it to all subordinates.
2. At the initial stage of implementation, a qualitative analysis of the quality culture should be carried out and the level ofcustomer satisfaction.
3. Management must select the TQM guidelines and follow them when leading quality improvement.
4. Strategic plans should be developed to introduce TQM into the work of the firm.
5. There should be a list of priority customer requirements and a plan to bring the level of product quality in line with these requirements.
6. Leaders at all levels should lead by example to promote TQM.
7. All necessary business processes to improve quality must be performed daily.
8. The result and progress of the implementation of TQM should be regularly evaluated against established plans.
9. It is important to keep employees at all levels informed of all changes and to encourage their initiative to improve quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth noting that implementing the TQM methodology and following its principles is not always an easy task. However, with effort, you can achieve an improvement in the quality of products and the work of the organization as a whole, which in turn will positively affect competitiveness and income.