Showing results by author "Arnold Weimerskirch" in All Categories

Studies show that companies waste millions of dollars on team building, benchmarking, and other quality initiatives. Yet so many save millions with the same initiatives. What makes the difference? Total Quality Management—integrating initiatives into a systematic quality improvement process.

Part of a series to cover the range of business functions in a typical MBA course, Total Quality Management: Strategic Planning teaches how to integrate strategic quality and business planning to create one tactical process for your entire business. Developed by two leading quality control experts, this well-researched, step-by-step guide helps your company successfully transition from traditional management to total quality management.

The new business management model begins with customer focus and ends with customer satisfaction. Companies intent on tracking their customers changing requirements and improving their services are encouraging their employees to interact with customers on a frequent basis. In an effort to learn more about what customers want, they have demonstrated that strengthening relationships with customers is critical to sustained growth and profitability.

The quality movement prompted many companies to question their entire way of operating. To understand and profit from the concept of Total Quality Management, companies must pay particular attention to the first word in the phrase: total. The spectacular rewards enjoyed by top companies like 3M, FedEx, and Ben & Jerry's were earned through a total commitment to achieving superior quality and customer satisfaction across all company functions and processes. This management model is customer-driven and focuses on systems thinking.