What Is Total Quality Management?

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a business management approach that seeks to continuously improve the Quality of an organization's products, services, and processes through the involvement of all employees and stakeholders. TQM aims to create a Culture of Excellence within an organization by encouraging all employees to actively participate in the Continuous Improvement process.

The management philosophies of Total Quality Management and Lean Management are closely related, as both approaches monitor the Quality of your products, processes, and services; and aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. Both TQM and Lean Management rely on data and metrics to inform Decision Making and encourage a Culture of Continuous Improvement. In practice, TQM and Lean Thinking are often used together, with TQM focusing on improving Quality and Lean Management focusing on optimizing processes and eliminating waste.

There are several advantages to implementing TQM within your organization:

• Improved Customer Satisfaction: By continuously improving the Quality of products and services, organizations can better meet the needs and expectations of their customers, leading to increased satisfaction.

• Increased Efficiency: TQM can help identify and eliminate waste and inefficiencies in processes, leading to cost savings and increased productivity.

• Enhanced Competitiveness: By continuously improving the Quality of products and services, organizations can differentiate themselves from their competitors and become more competitive in the market.

• Increased Employee Engagement: By involving all employees in the continuous improvement process, TQM can increase employee engagement and commitment to the organization.

• Improved Decision Making: TQM encourages the use of data and metrics to inform decision-making, leading to more informed and effective decisions.