Total Quality Management (TQM) is an extensive and structured approach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through ongoing refinements in response to continuous feedback. TQM requirements may involve the use of quality management tools like Six Sigma methodologies and quality control circles to facilitate and streamline this continuous improvement. The primary goal is enhancing customer satisfaction, which inherently drives a decrease in product defects and an increase in efficiencies across the organization.
Define quality goals and objectives based on customer feedback. | Integrate these quality goals into company processes. | Train employees on the importance of quality standards and how to achieve them. | Use continuous feedback to refine processes. | Implement control tools to monitor quality and make adjustments as needed.
Ensure top management commitment and involvement | Maintain open communication channels at all levels | Regularly review and revise quality objectives
Improves customer satisfaction | Reduces defects and waste | Enhances employee morale and involvement
Can be time-consuming to implement | Requires significant training and commitment | May lead to initial costs without immediate financial return
When quality improvement is a strategic focus | In industries where quality directly impacts customer satisfaction and safety
In very small or resource-constrained startups | When quick fixes are needed over systemic changes