Total Quality Pioneers

Total Quality Pioneers

Karen Lewis

MGT 449

February 29, 2012

Kevin Williams

Total Quality Pioneers

In today's business customers are the main focus that drives and defines quality. If there are no customer base or backing, how will company began to understand what quality is. This paper will define quality and the elements, discuss why the elements of quality are useful in today's economy and where will it take the company in the future.

Quality Defined

According to the readings, Geotsch and Davis, quality is defined by consumers using specifications, standards, and other measures (Geotsch & Davis, 2010). "Quality is in the eye of the beholder, this is a continuous process in our everyday lives" (2010, pg 4). The reading states, "One way to understand quality is that it can be consumer-driven. For example, purchasing merchandise at your favorite department store. How will one judge the quality of the purchasing? Here are some specifics: available in my size, color, service, response time, price and the environment. These are measure to define quality.

Total Quality Defined

"Total quality is an approach to doing business that attempts to maximize the competitiveness of an organization that continual improvement of the quality of its products, service, people, process, and environments" (Geotsch & Davis, 2010). The characteristics are driven from many factors internal, and external customers, teamwork within the organization, strategic planning, educating, and training the employees, and getting the employees involve in the process. All of these key factors contribute to total quality of what it takes to stand behind the products of the business.

Total Quality Elements

There are several ways for business, organizations, and people can establish success through Total Quality (TQ). There are 11 key elements to total quality for a successful business or organization. Here is the list as follows: teamwork, scientific approach, customer focus, continual process improvement, long-term commitment, strategically based, obsession with quality, unity of purpose, employee involvement, empowerment, freedom through control, and education and training (Geotsch & Davis, 2010). All of these components play an important role when a business is implementing total quality behind their products and services. These elements are drawn off of the company's goals, and mission statements that adhere to the needs and wants of the customer.

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