Total Quality Management (TQM) is a business management approach that aims to continuously improve the quality of products and services by involving all members of an organization in a process of continuous improvement. TQM originated in the 1950s and has evolved over time to become a popular business management approach used by organizations around the world.
The origins of TQM can be traced back to the early 20th century and the work of Frederick Winslow Taylor, who is considered the father of scientific management. Taylor believed that by breaking down work processes into their individual parts and optimizing each part, organizations could increase efficiency and productivity. This approach was later refined by other management thinkers, such as Henry Ford and W. Edwards Deming, who emphasized the importance of quality in the production process.
In the 1950s, Deming introduced the concept of "Total Quality Control" to Japan, which was in the process of rebuilding its economy after World War II. Japanese companies, including Toyota and Sony, embraced the concept and began using it to improve the quality of their products. In the 1960s and 1970s, TQM principles were further developed and popularized in the United States, where they were adopted by a number of large organizations, including Xerox and General Electric.
The key principles of TQM include customer focus, continuous improvement, employee involvement, and leadership. TQM practitioners believe that by focusing on the needs of the customer, organizations can create high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. Continuous improvement involves continuously seeking ways to improve processes and products, and employee involvement means that all members of the organization are involved in the process of continuous improvement. TQM also requires strong leadership to ensure that the organization is committed to the principles of TQM and that all employees are working towards the same goals.
TQM has been widely adopted around the world and has been successful in improving the quality of products and services in a wide range of industries. However, TQM is not without its criticisms. Some have argued that the focus on continuous improvement can lead to an over-reliance on measurement and data, and that TQM can be too prescriptive and inflexible in certain situations. Others have argued that TQM can be difficult to implement in large, complex organizations, and that it requires a significant commitment of resources and time.
Despite these criticisms, TQM remains a popular business management approach, and its principles continue to be used by organizations around the world to improve the quality of their products and services.