Customer Reviews

TQM: Text with Cases, Third Edition

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I came across the first edition of this book published many years ago. I found this the most useful and logical explanation of all the TQM tools and Methods. I guess the forerunner of Six Sigma, Lean and System thinking analysis tools.

Sets out quality policies, organizational requirements, flow charting, Pareto, cause and effect analysis, brain storming, QFD, SPC including SPC in services and non production areas, guidelines on the introduction of continuous improvement activities.

Anyone since the publication of this work by Oakland (1989) who claims to have originated these concepts and ideas or even transferred them to services, such as Six Sigma and some Systems thinkers are just spinning a marketing line, beware of over exaggerated claims.

Oakland and others were ahead of their time, many of their techniques were not fully utilized or understood by general management, who's only response was to create a 'quality' department... well they would wouldn't they as the only theory of management they had was that of mass production and functional specialization. Most of the Gurus of the TQM movement fought this battle and eventually lost, in the end we all lost as a result, probably 20 years of good management practice and opportunity. The world of management is even less educated about TQM today.

There is an old quote...'there is nothing more powerful than an Idea who's time has come' and I can add to that by saying...

there is nothing sadder than the waste in human endeavour for ideas waiting for their time to come.

I do hope that management education will improve, this should be compulsory reading for all MBA students.

I Teach Total Quality Management in Islamic Azad University of Iran. I use thise book for teaching. Thise book is a good reference for students.