Total Quality Management Tools
Total quality management (TQM) tools help organizations to identify, analyze and assess qualitative and quantitative data that is relevant to their business.
These tools can identify procedures, ideas, statistics, cause and effect concerns and other issues relevant to their organizations. Each of which can be examined and used to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, standardization and overall quality of procedures, products or work environment, in accordance with ISO 9000 standards (SQ, 2004).
According to Quality America, Inc. the number of TQM tools is close to 100 and come in various forms, such as brainstorming, focus groups, check lists, charts and graphs, diagrams and other analysis tools. In a different vein, manuals and standards are TQM tools as well, as they give direction and best practice guidelines to you and/or your staff.
TQM tools illustrate and aid in the assimilation of complicated information such as:
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Identification of your target audience.
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Assessment of customer needs.
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Competition analysis.
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Market analysis.
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Brainstorming ideas.
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Productivity changes.
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Various statistics.
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Staff duties and work flow analysis.
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Statement of purpose.
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Financial analysis.
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Model creation.
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Business structure.
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Logistic analysis.
The list goes on, though essentially TQM tools can be used in any situation, for any number of reasons, and can be extremely effective if used properly.
TQM Tools
The following are some of the most common TQM tools in use today. Each is used for, and identifies, specific information in a specific manner. It should be noted that tools should be used in conjunction with other tools to understand the full scope of the issue being analyzed or illustrated. Simply using one tool may inhibit your understanding of the data provided, or may close you off to further possibilities.
- Pie Charts and Bar Graphs
Used to identify and compare data units as they relate to one issue or the whole, such as budgets, vault space available, extent of funds, etc.
- Histograms
To illustrate and examine various data element in order to make decisions regarding them Effective when comparing statistical, survey, or questionnaire results.
- Run Chart
Follows a process over a specific period of time, such as accrual rates, to track high and low points in its run, and ultimately identify trends, shifts and patterns.
Pareto Charts / Analysis
Rates issues according to importance and frequency by prioritizing specific problems or causes in a manner that facilitates problem solving. Identify groupings of qualitative data, such as most frequent complaint, most commonly purchased preservation aid, etc. in order to measure which have priority.· Can be scheduled over select periods of time to track changes. They can also be created in retrospect, as a before and after analysis of a process change.
- Force Field Analysis
To identify driving and restraining forces occurring in a chosen process in order to understand why that particular process functions as it does. For example, identifying the driving and restraining forces of catering predominantly to genealogists. To identify restraining forces that need to be eradicated, or driving forces that need to be improved, in order to function at a higher level of efficiency.
- Focus Groups
Useful for marketing or advertising organizations to test products on the general public. Consist of various people from the general public who use and discuss your product, providing impartial feedback to help you determine whether your product needs improvement or if it should be introduced onto the market.
- Brainstorming and Affinity Diagrams
Teams using creative thinking to identify various aspects surrounding an issue.
- Tree Diagram
To identify the various tasks involved in, and the full scope of, a project.
To identify hierarchies, whether of personnel, business structure, or priorities.
To identify inputs and outputs of a project, procedure, process, etc.
- Flowcharts and Modeling Diagrams
Assist in the definition and analysis of each step in a process by illustrating it in a clear and comprehensive manner.
Identify areas where workflow may be blocked, or diverted, and where workflow is fluid.
Identify where steps need to be added or removed to improve efficiency and create standardized workflow.
- Scatter Diagram
To illustrate and validate hunches.
To discover cause and effect relationships, as well as bonds and correlations, between two variables.
To chart the positive and negative direction of relationships.
- Relations Diagram
To understand the relationships between various factors, issues, events, etc. so as to understand their importance in the overall organizational view.
- PDCA
The Plan-Do-Check-Act style of management where each project or procedure is planned according to needs and outcome, it is then tested, examined for efficiency and effectiveness, and then acted upon if anything in the process needs to be altered.
This is a cyclical style to be iterated until the process is perfected. All of these TQM tools can be easily created and examined by using various types of computer software or by simply mapping them out on paper. They can also be easily integrated into team meetings, organizational newsletters, marketing reports, and for various other data analysis needs. Proper integration and use of these tools will ultimately assist in processing data such as identifying collecting policies, enhancing work flow such as mapping acquisition procedures, ensuring client satisfaction by surveying their needs and analyzing them accordingly, and creating an overall high level of quality in all areas of your organization.
(source: management programmes)
