• The PDCA Cycle is   a checklist of the four stages which you must go through to get from `problem-faced'   to `problem solved'. The four stages are Plan-Do-Check-Act, and they are   carried out in the cycle illustrated below.

• Plan-Do-Check-Act

   

  Here is what you   do for each stage of the Cycle:

   
   
  • Plan   to improve your operations first by finding out what things are going   wrong (that is identify the problems faced), and come up with ideas   for solving these problems.
   
  • Do   changes designed to solve the problems on a small or experimental scale   first. This minimises disruption to routine activity while testing whether   the changes will work or not.
   
  • Check   whether the small scale or experimental changes are achieving the desired   result or not. Also, continuously Check nominated key activities (regardless   of any experimentation going on) to ensure that you know what the quality   of the output is at all times to identify any new problems when they   crop up.
   
  • Act   to implement changes on a larger scale if the experiment is successful.   This means making the changes a routine part of your activity. Also   Act to involve other persons (other departments, suppliers, or customers)   affected by the changes and whose cooperation you need to implement   them on a larger scale, or those who may simply benefit from what you   have learned (you may, of course, already have involved these people   in the Do or trial stage).
• You have now completed   the cycle to arrive at `problem solved'. Go back to the Plan stage to   identify the next `problem faced'.

1 more annotation...

• Total Quality Management  (TQM) 

    Total = Quality involves everyone and all activities in the company. 

    Quality = Conformance to Requirements (Meeting Customer Requirements). 

    Management = Quality can and must be managed. 

    TQM = A process for managing quality; it must be a continuous way  of life; a philosophy of perpetual improvement in everything we do.
• TQM Compared to ISO 9001 

    ISO 9000 is a Quality System Management Standard.  TQM is a philosophy  of perpetual improvement.  The ISO Quality Standard sets in place a  system to deploy policy and verifiable objectives.  An ISO implementation  is a basis for a Total Quality Management implementation. Where there is  an ISO system, about 75 percent of the steps are in place for TQM.  The  requirements for TQM can be considered ISO plus.  Another aspect relating  to the ISO Standard is that the proposed changes for the next revision (1999)  will contain customer satisfaction and measurement requirements.  In  short, implementing TQM is being proactive concerning quality rather than  reactive. 

• TQM as a Foundation 

    TQM is the foundation for activities which include; 

   
  •   Meeting Customer Requirements 
  •   Reducing Development Cycle Times 
  •   Just In Time/Demand Flow Manufacturing 
  •   Improvement Teams 
  •   Reducing Product and Service Costs 
  •   Improving Administrative Systems Training 

• The Ten Steps to TQM are as follows: 

   
  1.   Pursue New Strategic Thinking 
  2.   Know your Customers 
  3.   Set True Customer Requirements 
  4.   Concentrate on Prevention, Not Correction 
  5.   Reduce Chronic Waste 
  6.   Pursue a Continuous Improvement Strategy 
  7.   Use Structured Methodology for Process Improvement 
  8.   Reduce Variation 
  9.   Use a Balanced Approach 
  10.   Apply to All Functions 

• Principles of TQM 

    The Principles of TQM are as follows: 

   
  1.   Quality can and must be managed. 
  2.   Everyone has a customer and is a supplier. 
  3.   Processes, not people are the problem. 
  4.   Every employee is responsible for quality. 
  5.   Problems must be prevented, not just fixed. 
  6.   Quality must be measured. 
  7.   Quality improvements must be continuous. 
  8.   The quality standard is defect free. 
  9.   Goals are based on requirements, not negotiated. 
  10.   Life cycle costs, not front end costs. 
  11.   Management must be involved and lead. 
  12.   Plan and organize for quality improvement.

• Processes must be Managed  and Improved 

    Processes must be managed and improved!  This involves: 

   
  •   Defining the process 
  •   Measuring process performance (metrics) 
  •   Reviewing process performance 
  •   Identifying process shortcomings 
  •   Analyzing process problems 
  •   Making a process change 
  •   Measuring the effects of the process change 
  •   Communicating both ways between supervisor and user 

• Key to Quality 

    The key to improving quality is to improve processes that define, produce  and support our products.
   
    All people work in processes. 

    People 

   
  •   Get processes "in control" 
  •   Work with other employees and managers to identify process problems and eliminate  them 
   

    Managers and/or Supervisors Work on Processes 

   
  •   Provide training and tool resources 
  •   Measure and review process performance (metrics) 
  •   Improve process performance with the help of those who use the process 

5 more annotations...

• Quality management principles 

     

  The following text is an integral reproduction of the content of the document "Quality Management Principles".
• This document introduces the eight quality management principles on which the quality management system standards of the ISO 9000:2000 and ISO 9000:2008 series are based. These principles can be used by senior management as a framework to guide their organizations towards improved performance. The principles are derived from the collective experience and knowledge of the international experts who participate in ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 176, Quality management and quality assurance, which is responsible for developing and maintaining the ISO 9000 standards.
• The eight quality management principles are defined in ISO 9000:2005, Quality management systems Fundamentals and vocabulary, and in ISO 9004:2000, Quality management systems Guidelines for performance improvements.
• • Principle 1: Customer focus
   
  • Principle 2: Leadership
   
  • Principle 3: Involvement of people
   
  • Principle 4: Process approach
   
  • Principle 5: System approach to management
   
  • Principle 6: Continual improvement
   
  • Principle 7: Factual approach to decision making
   
  • Principle 8: Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
   
  • The next step

2 more annotations...

• Eight Principles of Quality Management

• Definition of Quality Management Principle: 

  "A quality management principle is a comprehensive and fundamental rule / belief, for leading and operating an organisation, aimed at continually improving performance over the long term by focusing on customers while addressing the needs of all other stake holders". 

  The eight principles are ... 

  1. Customer-Focused Organisation 

  2. Leadership 

  3. Involvement of People 

  4. Process Approach 

  5. System Approach to Management 

  6. Continual Improvement 

  7. Factual Approach to Decision Making and 

  8. Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships.  

• Principle 1 -   Customer-Focused Organisation :   "Organisations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations". 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Understand customer needs and expectations for products, delivery, price, dependability, etc.
    
  2. Ensure a balanced approach among customers and other stake holders (owners, people, suppliers, local communities and society at large) needs and expectations.
    
  3. Communicate these needs and expectations throughout the organisation.
    
  4. Measure customer satisfaction & act on results, and
    
  5. Manage customer relationships.

• Principle 2 - Leadership : "Leaders establish unity of purpose  and direction of the organisation. They should create and maintain the internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organisation's objectives." 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Be proactive and lead by example.
    
  2. Understand and respond to changes in the external environment.
    
  3. Consider the needs of all stake holders including customers, owners, people, suppliers, local communities and society at large.
    
  4. Establish a clear vision of the organisation's future.
    
  5. Establish shared values and ethical role models at all levels of the organisation.
    
  6. Build trust and eliminate fear.
    
  7. Provide people with the required resources and freedom to act with responsibility and accountability.
    
  8. Inspire, encourage and recognise people's contributions.
    
  9. Promote open and honest communication.
    
  10. Educate, train and coach people.
    
  11. Set challenging goals and targets, and
    
  12. Implement a strategy to achieve these goals and targets.

• Principle 3 - Involvement of People : "People at all levels are the essence of an organisation and their full involvement enables their  abilities to be used for the organisation's benefit". 

  Steps in application of this principle are...  

   
  1. Accept ownership and responsibility to solve problems.
    
  2. Actively seek opportunities to make improvements, and enhance competencies, knowledge and experience.
    
  3. Freely share knowledge & experience in teams.
    
  4. Focus on the creation of value for customers.
    
  5. Be innovative in furthering the organisation’s objectives.
    
  6. Improve the way of representing the organisation to customers, local communities and society at large.
    
  7. Help people derive satisfaction from their work, and
    
  8. Make people enthusiastic and proud to be part of the organisation.

• Principle 4 - Process  Approach : "A desired result is achieved more efficiently when related resources and activities are managed as a process." 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Define the process to achieve the desired result.
   
  2. Identify and measure the inputs and outputs of the  process.
   
  3. Identify the interfaces of the process with the functions of the organisation.
   
  4. Evaluate possible risks, consequences and impacts  of processes on customers, suppliers and other stake holders of the process.
   
  5. Establish clear responsibility, authority, and accountability for managing the process.
   
  6. Identify internal and external customers, suppliers  and other stake holders of the process, and
   
  7. When designing processes, consider process steps,  activities, flows, control measures, training needs, equipment, methods, information, materials and other resources to achieve the desired result.

• Principle 5 - System  Approach to Management : "Identifying,  understanding and managing a system of interrelated processes for a given objective improves the organisation's effectiveness and efficiency."   

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Define the system by identifying or developing the processes that affect a given objective.
   
  2. Structure the system to achieve the objective in the most efficient way.
   
  3. Understand the interdependencies among the processes of the system.
   
  4. Continually improve the system through measurement  and evaluation, and
   
  5. Estimate the resource requirements and establish  resource constraints prior to action.
   
    

• Principle 6 - Continual Improvement : "Continual improvement should be a permanent objective of the organisation." 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Make continual improvement of products, processes  and systems an objective for every individual in the organisation.
   
  2. Apply the basic improvement concepts of incremental  improvement and breakthrough improvement.
   
  3. Use periodic assessments against established criteria of excellence to identify areas for potential improvement.
    
  4. Continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all processes.
    
  5. Promote prevention based activities.
    
  6. Provide every member of the organisation with appropriate education and training, on the methods and tools of continual improvement such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle , problem solving , process re-engineering, and process innovation.
    
  7. Establish measures and goals to guide and track improvements,and
    
  8. Recognise improvements.

• Principle 7 - Factual  Approach to Decision Making : "Effective decisions are based on the analysis of data and information." 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Take measurements and collect data and information  relevant to the objective.
    
  2. Ensure that the data and information are sufficiently accurate, reliable and accessible.
    
  3. Analyse the data and information using valid methods.
    
  4. Understand the value of appropriate statistical techniques, and
    
  5. Make decisions and take action based on the results  of logical analysis balanced with experience and intuition.

• Principle 8 - Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships : "An organisation and its suppliers are interdependent, and a mutually  beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both to create value." 

  Steps in application of this principle are ... 

   
  1. Identify and select key suppliers.
    
  2. Establish supplier relationships that balance short-term gains with long-term considerations for the organisation and society at large.
    
  3. Create clear and open communications.
    
  4. Initiate joint development and improvement of products and processes.
    
  5. Jointly establish a clear understanding of customers' needs.
    
  6. Share information and future plans, and
    
  7. Recognise supplier improvements and achievements.

8 more annotations...