Total quality management (TQM)

Abstract

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT - What is TOM? It is total customer satisfaction, it is total commitment and involvement of all members of the organization. TQM must start at the womb (initial concept stage), and involve all phases and activities as well as most important, all people, to the tomb (final product, process or output). Quality of the process must be first and foremost at all of the various stages. We must develop and implement “concurrent engineering” to assure design and manufacturing reducibility are considered simultaneously, which will ensure the satisfactory end result. Activities must be controlled by “quality”. Everyone must have “quality” instilled in their way of performing assigned tasks. Quality cannot be the last phase but, quality must be an integral part of all processes. Every person must receive training in the “quality” way. Each person must seek and accept self improvement in all phases of their work life. We must achieve W. Edward Deming’s “theory for management”. Create a constancy of purpose toward improving product and service. Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Above all, improve constantly and forever the system of production and service to improve productivity and reduce cost. TQM can help us achieve the status of WCM - World Class Manufacturer, without which we will not be competitive in the aerospace arena.