Total quality management (TQM) is a philosophy and management system that focuses on meeting the demands of consumers. In the process of TQM consumer can be both internal and external, as well as any link in the supply chain, receiving materials from the previous chain link . TQM begins with the fact that top managers develop a vision of the universal qualities are actively engaged in this direction , providing support for the realization of this vision in practice , analyze and promote the progress of this work . TQM has four important properties:
1) The quality must be integrated into all activities of the organization;
2) The staff should actively engage in continuous improvement ;
3) TQM system act to meet the needs of consumers and to systematically and continuously conduct studies that determine this degree of satisfaction;
4 ) during TQM distributors become partners .
In TQM emphasizes quality as the force that integrates the activities of the organization. TQM to work, all of these steps in the process of production must conform to the specifications, which in turn is determined by the needs and desires of the end user. All the processes, both the buyer and the supplier shall be controlled and minimally deviate from the norm, which greatly reduces the time and cost of their test. This also reduces the volume of waste and re-works, increases productivity and reduces overall cost. However, TQM is not only the philosophy and theory, but also a practice involving the use of several tools, such as quality function deployment (QFD) and statistical process control, using which you can achieve better results of operation.
Quality function deployment (QFD)
Quality function deployment (QFD) is an important aspect of TQM. That’s the method of developing new products, established in response to the need for production of new products of higher quality at lower costs and faster. QFD, successfully applied for Toyota and many other companies, is built on teamwork and attracting customers and integrates marketing, design, engineering, production at all stages of the product life cycle, from concept to consumer. Through the coordination and integration, rather than the traditional sequential approach to QFD allows end users to communicate their wishes to the participants during the development phase of the product and take into account their views on the final stages of finishing and production. Although the early stages of this approach is spent more time at the expense of a thorough definition of consumer needs and desires ultimately total time for the entire design cycle is reduced, since the latter stages of the design process has to make a few changes .
In the process of QFD are four integrated steps:
1) planning products - to determine the design requirements;
2 ) the distribution of spare parts - to determine their characteristics;
3 ) the planning process - to determine production requirements ;
4) production planning - to determine production requirements.
The integration of the buyer and the supplier on the basis of a methodology for the implementation of QFD process can be advantageous due to a number of components :
1) reduction up to the full, the number of changes during the process of product development;
2) reduce the overall cycle time of product development;
3) reduce the time of product offerings in the market;
4) minimization of marriage and the cost of its maintenance over the life of a product;
5) The harmonization and reliability of the product during manufacturing.
The main contribution is: procurement professionals and managers can make deliveries in the organization's efforts in TQM and QFD - a well -functioning relationship between the buyer and the supplier. Rationalization of the supply base and closer relationships with key suppliers through partnership agreements or strategic alliances is parallel with quality initiatives. It is also important for the organization of compliance indicators for the procurement of strategic initiatives, if she wants her program of TQM and QFD have been successful. For example, if performance is measured on the basis of purchases to reduce material costs and operating efficiencies, and not the quality of the relationship with the supplier, procurement professionals can obtain incentive to buy only on the basis of price , which affects the quality initiatives . With this in mind, the most important component of ensuring global competitiveness, it is the integration of functions and processes across the organization and with key suppliers.
