Outline of a Quality Improvement Program

Outline of a Quality Improvement Program

I have always believed in the use of quality team building. The blending of the quality a production department to achieve the goal of a product that meets the quality standards set, the customer expectations and is a viable commercially profitable product.

At Present, we are re-active towards quality problems not pro-active as we should be. The key to improvement in product quality is by the use of teams and breaking own barriers between departments. In the past, I have tried to develop a quality awareness program but it has been lost in other issues. Now I have a driving force of the new investment to re-launch this program and to find key personnel who want to be part of the future and develop within the Total Quality System.

For any quality improvement system to work there must be an action chain and a level of commitment from all levels of the business. The use of the TQM system is a key example. Total meaning everyone associated with the company is involved in the continuous improvements. Quality the customers requirements are fully met. Management all levels of management are fully committed.

Once the management is seen to be committed then the work force will come on board. The way to involve the hands on people is to form Quality Control Circles. These QCC’s can be set up in key departments and are made up of a small group working together to contribute to the improvement of the areas quality as well as the development of the individuals within that circle.

Quality problems need to be addressed in a logical way and by the use of simple quality control methods such as cause and effect diagrams, check sheets, quality flow charts the QCC’s can systematically analyse the problem.

The use of the Quality Awareness boards and the Quality Awareness meeting are paramount in this and several principles will assist us to improve quality

PRINCIPLES AT THE HEART OF QUALITY

There are principles at the heart of quality that establish a foundation for the new philosophy.

Principle 1. The customers and their needs shape our company and its work, not vice versa.

* We must know the needs and concerns of our customers. We must understand what they experience when they use our products