Total Quality Management

Start with the main idea

Begin with the mind map on quality management that describes Total Quality Management as a philosophy connecting functions such as marketing, finance and customer service. It offers a way into the topic through the needs of customers and organizations. The flowchart on quality adds a view of long-term success through customer satisfaction and the participation of an organization’s members.

These resources provide a starting point before moving to more specific ideas in the collection. As you study, note how each resource describes quality and who is involved in achieving it.

Explore people and leadership

Total Quality Management Pioneers introduces Deming and his points on quality, including creating constancy of purpose and reducing dependence on inspection. Another mind map lists a range of quality pioneers, giving you names to look for as you work through the page.

The leadership mind maps offer another perspective. One connects leadership and strategic planning for quality. The other includes customer priorities, empowerment, prevention, collaboration and coaching. Compare these ideas with the emphasis on participation in the quality flowchart.

Use the quiz with the maps

The quiz asks what Total Quality Management and quality assurance are, as well as asking about a quality assurance method and a disadvantage of Total Quality Management. Start by using the introductory map, then try the quiz and return to the maps to review the ideas that need more attention.

The modern manufacturing environment describes accountability for the quality of a final product or service across the production process. A note on zero defects discusses an approach in which a company does not start by expecting mistakes. These resources add perspectives to the definitions and leadership material.

Place the topic in its unit

Total Quality Management is one section of the Quality Management unit in Business administration and management (incl. project management). Use this page’s resources to explore the topic within that unit, moving between definitions, people and practical approaches. Choose a map and follow it with the quiz.