TQM Master's Thesis: Now I'm Lost

Hi guys,

What can I tell you, I have got so obsesed with TQM and I believed I could write a brilliant master's thesis but now I am totally lost. My advisor wants me to define the TQM systems and ways for certification for TQM similar to ISO. I thought there is no such thing and believed a company should define its own way of implementing TQM. Can you tell me where to search for information?

[Marc]

As far as I know there is no TQM cetification scheme. It sopunds like your prof wants you to define one.

[Don Winton]

<font color=#0011dd><blockquote>My advisor wants me to define the TQM systems and ways for certification for TQM similar to ISO.</blockquote></font>

I agree with Marc. There is not a TQM certification scheme and your advisor sounds like he wants one defined. I cannot help, but can suggest a couple of references:

Total Quality Management Handbook by Jack Hradesky ISBN: 0-07-030511-0

or

Use ISO9004:2000 and replace the word ‘should’ with ‘shall.’

Regards,

Don

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I was better but I got over it.

[Alan Greatbatch]

I also have never heard of certification for TQM. I would think it is very difficult to certify a principle as you would lose the freedom of choosing how far to implement it.
ISO9001:2000 has actually promotes Demings PDCA cycle now in the standard.
It is nice to see ISO have finally caught up since Deming borrowed it from Shewhart to demonstrate continuous improvemnet back in the 50s

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Alan Greatbatch

[Kevin Mader]

Alan,

Good distinction on who created PDCA. This was Shewharts model for creating improvement. Dr. Deming's PDSA (so named "The Deming Wheel" by the Japanese) was created about 1986 using Shewhart's model. The late Dr. used to describe sustaining the improvement process using the Study in place of the Check.

PDCA to create improvement.
PDSA to sustain the improvement process.

Either way, the wheels are very similar and almost synonymous.

Regards,

Kevin

[Kevin Mader]

dWizard a 'lurker'? Impossible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,

Kevin

Kevin,

dWizard does seem to be pretty forum savvy for a lurker!

ASD...

[This message has been edited by Al Dyer (edited 05 April 2001).]

There are many models of national Quality Awards (Deming, Baldridge, EFQM) which may be considered as a kind of a company's TQM principles implementation assessment.