TQM Master's Thesis: Now I'm Lost

[lostinTQM]

TQMthesis

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

------------------
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

------------------
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

 

[Al Dyer]

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).]

 

[Piotr G.]

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.

 

[Calisto]

TQM, Change Management (CM), Organization Development (OD), Transformation, Systems Thinking (ST), Balanced Scorecard (BSC), YourIdeaHere: what do all of these things have in common? Someone invented them from some form of 'scratch.'

The fun of a thesis is that you get to define what results (another name for TQM, CM, OD, etc.) you want, what the principle success indicators are that define 'results', and then, create the 'test' to define success/failure or achieve/not achieved of the results. So what does an organization that works perfectly from a "systems perspective" look like? What are the mission, vision, value and goals? How does the organization communicate this information? Does it measure communication? What are the orgainzation's business objectives? Are key projects within the organization tied to anyting (balanced scorecard theory)? ...and so on... Make it up, make it fun, and make it short. There are plenty of books on change management which is the theoretical underpinning of your TQM framework.

Get the book, Organiztion Development and Transformation by French, Bell and Zawacki - in that book you wil find plenty of opportunity around your framework of TQM that should inspire you to build your own model and contribute nicely to the field of OD.

Good Luck,
be a star,
Calisto

 

[Rafael Deming]

This is for the poor guy whose ignorant teacher asked him to define a la ISO9000,TQM systems. There are several masters on the subject. I have found the old masters much easier to understand and define Juran, Deming, Ishikawa, Shewhart and Fisher. Modern Japanese thinkers are also very good Taguchi, Toyoda, Matsushita. And remeber TQM is not a destination, instead its a long trip that most be enjoyed. Please continue your pursuit of excellence it will guide you and take you to places you did not even imagine existed. But if anybody ever asked me to define TQM I would say it definitely is love, love of family, love of country, love of WORK!!! Our lack of love for things we make and for things we have has made us one of the shoddiest manufacturer countries in the world. I wish you the best of luck in your journey and please dont let anyone ignorant individual[teacher or manager or so called leaders or whatever]dissuade you from pursuing your dream.