Question

Imagine that you are brought in as a consultant on the Ford restructuring project. You are in charge of implementing a TQM project to help facilitate the change process. You will use Edward Deming’s 14 principles. Research them.

what and how you would recommend Ford does to implement a comprehensive Total Quality Management System?

Answer 1

One of the key factors to attain organisational success is quality. Quality has to be built into every level of the company and become a part of how the organisation performs. This is also a very important part to modern management philosophies as well. Many companies have seen great success by applying Edward Deming's technique. The 14 principles of Edward Deming that Ford can implement to achieve a comprehensive Total Quality Management System are as follows

1. Creating a constant purpose towards improvement: The goal must be to get better. Therefore the plan for quality must be for the long term and not solutions for short term needs. The philosophy must be to find better things to do rather than just doing the same things better
2. Adopting the new philosophy: It is definitely difficult to accept changes. However create a quality vision that has to be implemented. Quality has to be embraced throughout the organisation. Products and services must meet the customer's needs and this must be of top priority rather than reacting to competitive pressure. The goal is to lead through a new way rather than just manage.
3. Do not depend on inspections: Inspections merely fina lack in quality and not a method to improve the quality. They expensive and not 100% reliable. Quality has to be built into the process from the start itself and must continue till the finish. Instead of physical inspections use statistical controls. Eliminate the wrongs completely rather than just finding what was wrong.
4. Utilise only one supplier for one item: Quality is greatly dependant on consistency. Lesser the variation in input the lesser the variation also in the output. Partner with suppliers that focus on improving their quality as well.
5. Improvement must be constant and forever: Effort must put in continuously improving the systems and processes. Adopt other models that will reduce waste in order to improve productivity, effectiveness and safety.
6. Provide on the job training: Make workers understand their roles and it's importance and encourage them to learn from one another. Providing a culture and environment for effective teamwork will be beneficial. Giving training for consistency will help in reducing variation.
7. Leadership implementation: Supervisors and managers must understand the work, their workers and the processes. The aim is to provide support and the resources so that each worker can reach their full potential instead of meeting just targets and quotas.
8. Fear must be eliminated: There must be open and honest communication within the organisation. Workers must be able to perform their duties without being afraid to express their concerns. The goal is to achieve high quality and not in blaming anyone for their mistakes. Workers must feel valued and always encourage them to do things in a better way.
9. Barriers between department must be broken: Each department serves other departments that use their outcomes. The vision must be shared by all. The focus must not be on compromise but on collaboration. Utilise cross functional teams that will reduce adversarial relationships.
10. Unclear slogan must be removed: Short and catchy phrases might attract a momentary attention but the message will not be clear and complete. Slogans must replace effective leadership instead make clear your expectations and then appreciate the good work.
11. Eliminate Management by objectives: Measure processes rather than the people behind the process. Importance must be give to processes and their improvement and not just in achieving numerical targets.
12. Take pride in workmanship: Every employee must take pride in the work they are doing without being rated and compared. All workers must be treated equally.
13. Education and self-improvement has to be implemented: Workers must be encouraged to learn new skills so that they are prepared to face future challenges.
14. Transformation must be everyone's job: Each person in the organisation must take the step towards quality.