TQM Tools And Techniques

TQM TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

PREREQUESITE DISCUSSION:

First company in Japan to introduce Quality Circles was the Nippon Wireless and Telegraph Company in 1962. By the end of that year there were 36 companies registered with JUSE by 1978 , but then spread to more than 35 other companies in the first year.

Quality circles are generally free to select any topic they wish (other than those related to salary and terms and conditions of work, as there are other channels through which these issues are usually considered.

Quality circles have the advantage of continuity; the circle remains intact from project to project.

CONCEPT:

A quality circle is a volunteer group composed of workers (or even students).

Supervisor Meet regularly in paid time who are trained to identify, analyze and solve work-related problems and present their solutions to management.

When matured, true quality circles become self-managing, having gained the confidence of management.

Quality circles are an alternative to the rigid concept of division of labor, where workers operate in a more narrow scope and compartmentalized functions.

Typical topics are improving occupational safety and health, improving product design, and improvement in the workplace and manufacturing processes.

Improve Customer Satisfaction

Stock is available at the right time and right location.

Simply stated, stock is available at the right time and right location. Inventory Optimization balances the investment in an inventory with the fill-rate (service level) goals of a company. Financial considerations and/or constraints can also be applied in the development of the algorithm. These highly complex algorithms work behind the scene, allowing the user to feel confident in using optimization to help manage their inventory.

A better balanced inventory means more customer satisfaction. Customer service level management is one of the intrinsic values to Valogix solutions. Repeat orders from current satisfied customers are now more profitable than acquiring new customers! If your money is tied up in a very slow moving, excess and inactive stock you won’t have the cash you need to buy more of the items your customers are looking for and they will go elsewhere.

APPLICATIONS:

Quality circles have been implemented even in educational sectors in India, and QCFI (Quality Circle Forum of India) is promoting such activities. However this was not successful in the United States, as it (was not properly understood and) turned out to be a fault-finding exercise although some circles do still exist.