A Roadmap for Implementing Total Quality Management Practices in Medium Enterprises

Abstract

This paper describes a seven point framework for effective total quality management (TQM) implementation in medium enterprises (MEs). This framework shows that top management commitment and involvement is indispensable in the formulation and implementation of various quality adoption steps. The significant steps of the framework include development of mission and vision statement, formulating implementation plan, ensuring employee involvement, establishing education and training programs and starting implementation phase. At the last, continuous improvement is required to maintain the implementation effort for excellence orientation. The primary objective of this study was to prescribe a roadmap for TQM practicing MEs to adopt excellent quality practices in a simplified way. The author also tried to highlight the theoretical background while emphasizing the importance of steps of quality improvement practices. The idea behind taking MEs for adopting TQM practices is that the characteristics of MEs are most suited for it. However, TQM is a modern quality management practice which can be applied successfully to any type of enterprises, irrespective of their affiliation.

Keywords: Total quality management, continuous improvement, mission statement, involvement, customer satisfaction