Six Sigma and Total Quality Management

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Six Sigma and Total Quality Management

Six Sigma and Total Quality Management are methods that help organizations improve product and service quality throughout their respective workplaces. Six Sigma and Total Quality Management each have their own venue that best suits their methods. When applied in the correct manner, both Six Sigma and total quality management provide a thorough check of the organizations quality assurance. Six Sigma allows the user to complete a thorough measurement of defects, thus making the manufacturing the best environment for this tool. Total Quality Management is better suited in the service operations; it focuses on continuous improvement by the organizations management and employees.

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Total Quality Management is a method of obtaining a quality product or service with minor quality training of personnel. Many times quality ideas come from a brainstorming session with fellow workers. One of the most important parts of Totally Quality Management is to understand, in detail, the organizational processes before an attempt is made to improve the processes. Each of the processes is connected to and feeds other organizational processes. The outputs of these various processes are what determine the quality level of the organization. If the customers are continually satisfied and expectations are met, the organization claims total quality. When customers are unsatisfied the team relooks inputs and outputs to determine where the problem lies. The final determination on the quality of a business’s product is determined by the paying customer.

Another important aspect of Total Quality Management is the emphasis of keeping the entire team involved in the continual ...

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...asures. Six Sigma and Total Quality Management can be applied in either the service or manufacturing industry. Although many services prefer to apply the Total Quality Management method, while the larger manufacturing environment leans towards the reduction of defects that Six Sigma provides. Both Six Sigma and Total Quality Management provide a thorough check of the organizations processes.

Works Cited

Yang, C. (2006). Establishment of a Quality-Management System for Service Industries. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 17(9), 1129-1154. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Grant, V. (2008). Lean Six Sigma -- the GUTs of improvement?. Management Services, 52(1), 22-23. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Training for Excellence: Practitioners Give Best Practices for Teaching Six Sigma. (2000). Corporate University Review, 8(3), 3. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

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