Customer expectations are increasing day by day. Modern customers are acutely aware of how powerful today’s technology is. They expect organizations to use this power to deliver maximum quality services and products.
In the meantime, your company needs to meet those expectations to stay ahead of the competition.
For IT organizations, the need for continuous improvement and improvement in service delivery is essential. This fact has led to the use of business management methods. Utilizing the best of modern business practices allows IT organizations to maintain their rapid development pace that meets customer demand.
It goes without saying that speed can only help a part of the organization. This is where TQM comes into play and can help fill gaps and help organizations maintain quality control.
What is Total Quality Management ( TQM ) ?
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach that seeks to achieve long-term success by achieving complete customer satisfaction through the continuous provision of quality IT services. To properly implement TQM methods, the entire organization must act as a unit for excellence.
Achieving this goal is done with a high focus on TQM principles :
Customer
The first and foremost pillar of TQM success is the uninterrupted customer focus in all interactions with the organization. From the first call through continuous purchase and support, the customer should always be the top priority.
Employee ownership
Total Quality Management (TQM) requires the participation of all team members to ensure that complete quality control is provided at every level. TQM does not focus on a single segment; Because the goal is for customers to have a great experience at every level.
Process based
TQM focuses on creating and implementing processes that enable organizations to find success and repeat it. Determining the steps taken is essential to the successful implementation of TQM.
System integration
Total Quality Management (TQM) strategies revolve around the application of any assets in the company. This is best achieved by integrating a system that combines different parts of the organization into a single, high-efficiency device.
connections
TQM requires that each team member be at his or her best and act as a value-added member of the team. This means that communication and transparency are a fundamental principle of successful TQM methods.
Data driven
TQM does not use speculation. Instead, the data is used to improve the organization and decisions are made based on measurable facts.
Continuous improvement
TQM is not a complete process. Perfection is impossible, so you must always strive to bring the organization as close to perfection as possible.
These elements of TQM (Integrated Quality Management) act as a framework for any decision made in the approach.
How to implement TQM (Total Quality Management)
The first step in implementing any new system is to honestly evaluate the organization today. Implementing TQM is something that should be implemented in the current structure of the organization. There is no step-by-step guide to telling you how to do this for your business. Every business is unique and needs its own approach, but the basics of TQM can guide any decision.
Emphasize customer satisfaction
Emphasis on customer satisfaction changes departments’ attitudes about tasks. In other words, if what they are doing does not help improve product quality or enhance the customer experience, they are not moving in the right direction.
Each employee must take on their role and be prepared to consider ways to improve the department.
Connect with everyone
Communication across the organization is essential to educating everyone about the changes ahead, but also provides a way to get feedback.
Manage errors
One of the most important aspects of quality delivery is error management. Regardless of the degree of focus on quality, IT organizations will always face different issues.
Creating processes that reduce issues and errors is essential to the success of TQM. Of course, errors must be completely eliminated and dealt with as soon as possible, and they must also be recorded and followed up.
Frequent issues can indicate a deeper issue that requires extensive changes in current practices. The occurrence of an error is an opportunity to assess the problem. The TQM should use mistakes as an opportunity to learn and find ways to avoid them in the future.
TQM is everyone’s responsibility
TQM requires all parties to act on their role, and the same is true of admitting error and admiration. Focusing on improving the quality of products and services requires accountability.
Tracking benchmarks and comparing the results of operations before and after changes is the best way to learn what works and what doesn’t. It is also essential that systems be structured and tracked to ensure that success can be replicated.