|
Author: Lance Winslow Article source: http://www.total-quality-management.info/. Used with author's permission.
Every decade we seem to come up with a buzz-word to describe the things we should be doing right all the time. Forever we have heard our parents or grandparents use little phrases to get our attention. "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right? Or "Never enough time to do it right, but always making time to do it over." Quick quotes like these and there must be a hundreds of different ones which all lead to the same thing. In the 1980's and early 1990's it was TQM or Total Quality Management. Deming and Peters harped on this like there was no tomorrow. Then later on we had the Six Sigma by GE and the Jack Welsh crowd of executives and remember the ISO 9000 series of quality and perfection. Now then let's get back to; TQM Total Quality Management, the book. If you have not read it, then you should because you can buy it at any garage sale for $1.00 or at a used book store for $4-5 dollars. Amazon has tons of used ones for sale as well. Make sure you buy the right book, as there must be 100 or more books on that subject:
Total Quality Management-Strategic Planning, By Stephen George and Arnold Weimerskirch. 1994 Book
This book talked about Quality Management and benchmarking in manufacturing. I find its content way out dated and fear for any company using these principles today, but I fear worse for any company not striving for the concepts that are discussed. You should read the book for sure, no doubt, but conceptually, not verbatim. Things move much faster now business.
I believe a CEO of any company ought to already know all aspects of the business and not need to be involved in all this observation and planning, but I fear they do not, as we keep seeing executives take unnecessary risks and short cuts, which all too often end up biting them in the butt. I would say that the time process and the steps used in this process are too numerous and time consuming to keep up with the reality of today's modern business when it has to be there yesterday or in real time, however your parents and grandparents were right and you should sweat the small things and details.
All the committees, referees, tour guides, management etc. it is a wonder how anything got done. This is why the computer industry with novice management was able to literally blow the doors off these large companies in bringing products and innovation to market so fast. It is because they skipped the vary steps outlined in this book. It is also a reason for lower profits at these large institutional type companies; too much organizational overlay in the way to accomplish the tasks at hand. Many of the companies listed as great quality Management achievers of yesterday, are today, as in this year laying off 1000s of people, some are totally gone or merged. It was interesting to read the WSJ for the prior decade and all the companies who excelled at this TQM thing are getting a lesson in sector rotation and making earnings warnings. They got too big for their own britches. Committees, meetings, plans, strategic plans, bench marking, objectives, time schedules, supervisor meetings, advisory councils, strategic objectives, paper work, etc.
It is almost unbelievable that we now have 10s of 1000s of managers who still think this way in their 50s and 60s running these companies. They need to move out of the way of progress, they are what is wrong with America and what will keep American companies from competing in the global arena. This does not mean you should forgo quality, it means you should focus on the skill sets and details and know the plays you ran in practice and run for goal line. Thank god no one on our team or my companies were ever buried in such minutia. I see many of our competitors that are large companies making the same mistakes in this book.
Do not get me wrong, TQM although just a buzz word stands for something, but in the end you must Keep It Simple Stupid; KISS. So with that said if you have not read the book, you need it on your business shelf and you should read it for a concept of thinking necessary to do it right, but also realize most importantly you must "Just Do It," and get it done. "Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
The Harmonic
However, it would be nice to see these researchers (are not historians supposed to research?) ask people who are knowledgeable about alchemy and present their o...
Consulting Your Soul
The more cheerful, happy, contented, and satisfied I am feeling, the more aware I am of my connection to spirit. So, does all this mean I'm suggesting that you ...
3 Simple Ways to Generate Cash Flow
This article focuses on generating cash as a full time job or "on the side" to support your business. These are three easy methods that will help you grow your...
HELP: I Need a Press Kit!
A press kit is an essential press relations tool. While it can be used to support a special event or promotional activity, it is most helpful in strategically p...
Personal Debt Reduction Practices
These debt reduction practices offer you a way to control your spending habits and achieve financial freedom.
Produce More Sperm - Increasing Ejaculate Volume
GFL presents the following article on how more ejaculation can help both fertility and sperm quality. We are one of the leading companies involved in sperm enha...
GOD 1.0: The Universal OS
Is your platform running the best Operating System it could be? Consider GOD 1.0 (There Is Only One!), a univerally compatible, infinitely powerful and complete...
Integrative Medicine And Its Future
The pro's and con's of combining Holistic and Natural Medicine with American Medicine.
Throwing a Las Vegas Garden Wedding
You may not think of Las Vegas as an area known for its gardens but you'd be wrong. There are more gardens in and around Las Vegas than you'd think possible giv...
Myofascial Release
"...Myofascial release is a tender mixture of stretches and massage techniques. A bodywork therapy whereby a therapist directs hands-on touch and maneuvers to t...
There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!
Occasionally a question comes over the digital transom that just makes me go, "Huh?" It's kind of like trying to stifle a giggle when Grandma breaks wind at Su...
Choose Happiness
It's a beautiful spring day in Beverly Hills, California. I'm looking out my window at elm trees in full leaf and roses in full bloom, and thinking about the p...
To Flash, or Not to Flash
In this article, I discuss way to use and not to use Flash on your website.
10 Filler Activities for the Summer Business Slowdown
Summer is a time for the outdoors, for that well-deserved vacation, and with everyone out and about, it's also a time that you may notice a slowdown in demand f...
Coping with Change: Develop Your Personal Strategy
The inevitability of change is one of the only constants in today's business environment. Your ability to accept and even embrace change is fundamental to your ...
Check Your Credit Before Shopping For That Home Loan
Too many consumers get frustrated when a ding on their credit score delays the process of closing on a mortgage or completing a home equity loan. Before you sta...
Finding a Discount Car Insurance Broker
Times past finding a discount insurance broker was important and offered you access to many different outlets for your needs. Today that's no longer the case as...
Management Coaching: Inside the Eight Steps
Our research identified 47 qualities that distinguished great coaches from their opposites. We chose the key themes that did the best job of teaching what we ha...
Oriental Area Rugs - Know Before You Buy an Oriental Rug
When looking to purchase an oriental rug, its helpful to know the difference between the styles of rugs available...
Dressing Your Bridesmaids
Here's how a bride can find the perfect dress for her bridesmaids--a style that showcases her own taste, will look great on every girl and is affordable.
Customers - What They Really Want - 6 Secrets of Customer Service
Overall, customers just want to feel good. They want to feel better after they've dealt with you or anyone in your business, than they did before. If you can cr...
Checklist of Flowers for Your Wedding Day
Weddings and beautiful flowers go hand in hand. Fresh flowers, silk flowers, dried flowers and preserved flower arrangements alike require special preparations ...
Emergency Living
We treat everything like it is an emergency, and we rush around putting out fires that don't exist. The problem with treating everything like an emergency is, w...
Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods
Although today's job market is very competitive there are some simple marketing techniques you can apply to catch the attention of potential employers. Use thes...
|
Print this page