Quality Control Management Table of Contents (TOC)

Quality Control Management

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Introduction

This quality control management is needed for the companies to ensure that their products are quality and standards and satisfied their customers (Evans 2014). It is also required to ensure that the end products meet the required standards. The inspections on product quality control were done; this includes examining, measuring and testing the processes, products against specific requirements to ensure every element met standards and guidelines.

History of the quality management evolution

The history of quality management is traced back to middle ages in which the work of apprentices and journeymen were inspected and assessed to make sure that they met quality standards in all factors of the final product so as to ensure that buyers are satisfied. It has passed through several changes, but it has maintained its goals. It started to work in 1920’s, and its focus was on the final product in which the statistical theory that apply for the first time to product quality control. During the late 1970s and early 1970s Western Europe and North America were facing stiff competition from Japan and the United Kingdom a net importer of final products. (Low et al. 2014). The firms started to reexamine the quality control techniques, and how the Japanese have successfully employed them and at this point, the quality management control that is employed in most parts. Development and change were done in 1940’s by experts and industry leaders, and this was the start of Total Quality Management. This system is needed to change the focus from inspecting the end product to preventing final product problems by detecting on the production line.

The Role of Leadership in quality management

There are various directions that companies can adopt regarding of strategic quality management but the following two are more specific. These include; adopting the direction of threshold capabilities which are required for the requirements of the completion in a market. To achieve competitive advantage, there is a need to develop strategic capabilities which the competitors cannot obtain (Naidu el al. 2006). This can be achieved through the resources that the company has and which are unique.

Senior management and role model

For an organization to perform efficiently, the senior management must ensure that they effectively follow their roles and responsibilities well. This will ensure that the organization achieves their goals and objectives. The senior management has well-displayed roles that they should follow so as to make the organization a successful and this is as discussed below.

To begin with, the senior management is essential in matters pertaining decision making of the major strategic plans of the organization (Bartlett 1997). This includes the methods and policies to be used in strategic plans as well as matters that arise among the employees. Again the senior management must set a good example for the junior staff to follow. This will ensure that they become good role models to them and doing efficient work that the juniors should imitate them.

More so, the senior management must provide necessary resource needed in the organizational duties and functions. They do this by authorizing funds for the different vote heads in the organization depending on the budget involved in that period of work. This is a great role which must be performed to ensure that there is an effective performance of the employees (Liff, et al. 2001). If this is not done then the organization will be at risk of closure hence the management should do this in advance. Also, they should be conflict solvers in the same organization to facilitate easy resolution of conflicts that may occur between the employees. This will create an encouraging working environment for both senior and junior staff.

Firms and organizations must ensure that the senior management follows their roles to make the performance easy and valid. If the senior management performs these roles, then all departments will experience easy and smooth working environment (Melissa 2015). All the resources will be available, and conflicts will be solved well. If this is not followed, then the firm will experience hardships in performing its duties.

However, the senior and middle management should come up with metrics to be used in ensuring there is effective monitoring, controlling good communication among the organizational departments. This includes factors like establishing good communication and monitoring methods. This will work well for the efficient performance of the organizations.

Quality management tactic	Definition	Risks	Value
Six Sigma	This refers to a methodology that is data driven that is adopted to assist in eliminating of defects from the manufacturing of a product or service to its transaction. For a product to have achieved six sigma, it is not meant to have defects that are outside the specifications of the customer.	The major risks that come with six sigma are creation of bureaucracy, delays and stifling of creativity in the organization. There is also the risk of not taking due of the inner qualities control measures of the organization.	Six Sigma helps in improving customer loyalty, time management, supply chain management and strategic planning in the organization (Harris, 2013).
5S	This refers to a system or approach that is adopted by organizations to optimize productivity as well as reduce waste through maintaining order at the workplace as well as employing visual cues with the ultimate aim of achieving operational results that are more constant. It consists of 5 pillars that are sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain (Lista International, 2016).	There is the risk of 5S losing its effectiveness when it is implemented without people fully understanding it. The pother risk is that of the program losing its role and becoming the end goal of the improvement journey of an organization.	Implementing 5S helps in increasing the productivity of an organization and reducing the down time. The approach also helps in improving the product quality of the organization. Safety in the organization is also enhanced.
Mistake Proofing	This refers to a quality control approach that adds controls with the aim of preventing defects, reducing the severity of the defects when they occur and being able to detect the defects whenever they occur. There are three types of mistake proofing, contact method, fixed value method and sequence method.	There is the risk of losses in the company especially when the workers fiddle with the instruments. There is the financial risk since it tends to require special expertise which may be expensive (Khamesra, 2013).	Mistake proofing helps to improve customer loyalty, achieving of the lowest cost quality control in an organization and improves productivity.
Defining Metrics	Defining metrics is an approach that is adopted by organizations to help the firm be able to focus the resources that they have, human and financial, on the things that are important to the organization and that add value.	This sometimes may comes with the risk of increased bureaucracy and stifling of creativity since everything is laid out.	Defining metrics helps in decision making, drives the performance of the organization and provides focus in the organization.

Quality Strategic planning tool

This is another strategic direction that the company can adopt this so as to focus and prioritize the efforts and the implementation of a plan. The company can use this direction to anticipate and predict changes and the position the company to act. The company has to quality which is a top priority for all in the company.

Six Sigma evolutions

This is a methodology started by Motorola in 1986. It was developed to minimize defects in business process by improving it. It is widely as an organizational strategy which majors on reduction of differences and achievement of output improvements through problem solving. (Naidu el al. 2006)

Pros of Six Sigma

This initiative has several advantages which have made it employed by various companies. The following are the pros of this drive; it makes decision-based on data which can be verified rather than focusing on the assumptions (Low et al. 2014). It also put more emphasis on the support and passionate management leadership. It is also customer driven. It is also addressing the whole process of behind the completion of service instead of the mere final product. This program is also proactive since it focuses on improvements before shortcomings are detected. It also stock value and sales.

Cons of six sigma

This program may create bureaucracy and rigidity that may cause stifle creativity and delays; this is because it is applied in all factors of planning process and production. Another con is that the focus of customer may be taken to ends, in which the inner qualities control measures that are not taken due to the emphasis on achieving the Six Sigma – stipulated status of consumer satisfaction (Evans, 2014)

Evolution of Deming program

This program evolved when the level of competition among business organizations increased and there was a need to review the quality management programs to ensure that the service and products remain competitive (Crawford 2005). It was applied after World War II.

Pros of Deming program

This program has several programs which include; it makes small-scale improvements at all levels of manufacturing and management processes and earns benefits of their cumulative effects. With this organizations can maximize value and quality for the final- user. This program also has benefited the suppliers by enabling them to devote their attention towards the innovative goods with a higher tolerance (Crawford 2005). It also reduces the time for inspection, and this makes the purchasers depend on quality parts. This program also enables the companies to enjoy a dedicated workforce and increase the morale on every member of the company by placing the commitment.

Cons of Deming program

While this program has its benefit, it also has demerits which include; this program calls for the elimination of work standards and numerical quotas and the frontline employees may not in a position to provide documentation of positive job evaluation during compensation hearings. Also, the employers may not be in a position to justify workers increment of salaries and terminations (Bartlett 1997). It forced the companies to get involved in a swift undertaking which will negate the available benefits from the new process and alienates members who are not ready to move from the status quo. This program also does not demand radical organization reform while it calls for organizational change.

The idea of quality Tactics and the Logistics and Supply Chain Functions

This is used in the business of all sizes and all types. It is applicable in manufacturing as it is in health care or food services (Melissa 2015). Of course, quality means different things for different companies and takes a different meaning depending on whether a product, a service or a combination of both is provided.  The core of quality tactics and the logistics and supply chain function management can guide your business towards improved performance. It’s not just about the condition of the products you sell or the caliber of services your business provides but the processes to achieve continuous quality.  This guide shows the tools that will assist business to come up with a management strategy to improve quality tactics and the logistics and supply chain functions.

Internal Tools

Total Quality Management Guide Total Quality Management is a combination of practices put in place throughout a company that is geared to ensure the company continuously meets or exceeds customer requirements (Melissa 2015). TQM places strong attention on process measurement and controls as means of continuous improvement. This Total Quality Management Guide emphasizes on the primary elements of quality management and includes chart, graphs, and tools to help an organization with coming up with a program of quality management.

Equipment Maintenance Log is improving quality doesn't usually need a full-scale restructuring of your management system hiring an additional individual to take care of quality.  Small changes such as improved documentation can majorly impact quality (Melissa 2015). One example is keeping track of the state of your equipment to ensure top performance and output. This Equipment Maintenance Log offers a comprehensive spreadsheet for tracking equipment maintenance records by equipment type, model number, serial number, and location. 

Customs transit

Customs transit is a customs procedure used to facilitate the movement of goods between two points of a customs location, through another customs location, or between two or more different customs locations. It gives room for the temporary suspension of duties, taxes and commercial policy measures that are applicable at import, thereby allowing customs clearance formalities to happen at the destination instead of the point of entry into the customs location.

The Fast Track Logistics Assessment

Unbeknown to many businesses is the fact that they have significant likely cost savings or service gains locked away in their transportation functions (Melissa 2015). Usually, daily operational pressures unnecessarily divert resource away from generating maximum efficiency. The Fast Track Logistics Assessment gives room for companies to quickly gain a fast benchmark indicating potential cost savings and service improvements.

External Tools

When the business depends on vendors to produce your products or as an intricate part of a process you need to make sure you hire the best.  If you are not sure how to analyze a potential supplier, the supplier audit form is meant to assist the organization to recruit the best vendors.

Vendor Inventory Tracking

The Vendor Management Systems (VMS) tools meant to keep track of all interactions with your vendors; it gives the business room to create its own library of all past work performed and developed detailed relationship profiles for future work required (Bartlett 1997). These tools can be found in the cloud, so deployment and administration efforts can be dramatically minimized.

Frameworks

The odds are that you are working for any organization those requirements merchants, you are likewise directed in some way or another to guarantee you are in consistence with the law (Goldberg 1994). Each controlled industry has a rundown of best practices, and you, as the administrator ought to utilize these rundowns to direct your area of expertise's activities.

Roll-Out

Rolling out process occurs when a company wants to make a response to new market changes in technology. In logistic and chain supply management activities usually include recruiting new employees, management of company property, procurement contract negotiations among other functions (Holland et al. 2005). For a successful rolling out process, the company needs a good communication, proper planning and close monitoring the progress of implantation of the changes.

A good communication plan is usually required to help in the rolling out process. There should be a clear explanation of new procedures introduced in the company(Levin 2003). Before the implementation of the new changes, there should be a negotiation in the involved all parties involved. The communication should aim to solve issues of resistance among members and include ideas for each person. The advantages of the new procedure should be communicated and how to bridge the gap between the old ways and new procedures to be introduced how they are applied in today chain management and logistics.

Training should be done to employees upon introduction of new procedures, this will ensure a smooth transition. Proper training should be done to helps reduce errors and confusion among the employees. Training manual should contain new instructions and description of all procedures of carrying out a task (Holland et al. 2005). The documents should be given to the employee in good time to make them familiarize with the new demand of introduced market conditions. Training should be done with the aim of gaining the support of organization’s members so as to work toward achieving a common goal.

All stakeholders involved in the supply chain should be consulted to give their opinion on this implementation of new procedures(Levin 2003). There should be an agreement to the changes to be introduced to avoid reluctance in the implementation of the new obligations, which will give a good co-ordination in all stakeholders and smooth flow of activities in the company.

References:

Evans, J. R. (2014). An introduction to six sigma and process improvement.

Low, S. P., & Ong, J. (2014). Project quality management: Critical success factors for buildings.

Naidu, N. V. R., Babu, K. M., &Rajendra, G. (2006). Total quality management. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Ltd. Publishers.

Bartlett, A., & Ghoshal, S. (1997). The myth of the generic manager: new personal competencies for new management roles. California management review, 40(1), 92-116.

Crawford, L. (2005). Senior management perceptions of project management competence. International journal of project management, 23(1), 7-16.

Liff, S., & Ward, K. (2001). Distorted views through the glass ceiling: the construction of women's understandings of promotion and senior management positions. Gender, Work & Organization, 8(1), 19-36.

Melissa Conley-Tyler, A fundamental choice: internal or external evaluation?, Evaluation Journal of Australasia, Vol. 4 (new series), Nos. 1 & 2, March/April 2005, pp. 3–11.

Goldberg, B & Sifonis, JG 1994, Dynamic planning: the art of managing beyond tomorrow, Oxford University Press, New York

Levin, M. A., &Kalal, T. T. (2003). Improving product reliability: Strategies and implementation. Chichester, England: Wiley.

Holland, C., & Cochran, D. S. (2005). Breakthrough business results with MVT: A fast, cost-free "secret weapon" for boosting sales, cutting expenses, and improving any business process. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.