A quick guide to total quality management

TQM is not the endall of management; it is a tool for gaining measurable improvement in your organization. T otal Quality Management (TQM) is a philosophy, an attitude of the mind, and a journey-not a destination. It is supposed to help in winning customer confidence and in securing long-term profitability. Customers demand good quality, reasonable prices, and flexible delivery schedules. TQM means building quality into everything in every area-design, production, purchasing, vendor relations, inspection, service after sales, market research, development, financial controls, personnel rewards, training, and education. A company must first improve quality; only then should it look into cost, volume, and productivity. The improvement in price, performance, and services follows automatically.