Quality Management Analysis

Sample Solution

   

Quality management models and tools are frameworks and techniques that organizations use to improve the quality of their products, services, and processes. These models and tools can help organizations to identify and correct quality problems, prevent defects from occurring, and continuously improve their performance.

Three Quality Management Models:

• Deming's 14 Points: Deming's 14 Points are a set of principles and practices that organizations can use to create a quality culture. The points focus on continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, employee involvement, and the elimination of waste.
• Crosby's Quality is Free: Crosby's Quality is Free is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of preventing defects in the first place. Crosby argues that the cost of quality problems is much higher than the cost of preventing them.

Full Answer Section

     

• Total Quality Management (TQM): TQM is a comprehensive approach to quality management that focuses on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. TQM involves all employees in the quality effort and emphasizes data-driven decision making.

Quality Management Tools:

• Flow charts: Flow charts are diagrams that show the steps involved in a process. Flow charts can be used to identify potential quality problems and to develop solutions to prevent those problems from occurring.
• Check sheets: Check sheets are forms that are used to collect data on quality problems. Check sheets can be used to identify patterns in quality problems and to track the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Histograms: Histograms are bar charts that show the distribution of data. Histograms can be used to identify the most common quality problems and to track the progress of continuous improvement efforts.
• Pareto analysis: Pareto analysis is a technique that is used to identify the most significant causes of quality problems. Pareto analysis involves ranking the causes of quality problems by their frequency and then focusing on the most significant causes.
• Scatter diagrams: Scatter diagrams are graphs that show the relationship between two variables. Scatter diagrams can be used to identify relationships between quality problems and other factors, such as process parameters or supplier performance.
• Control charts: Control charts are graphs that are used to monitor the performance of a process over time. Control charts can be used to identify trends in process performance and to identify when a process is out of control.
• Cause-and-effect diagrams: Cause-and-effect diagrams, also known as fishbone diagrams, are diagrams that are used to identify and organize the possible causes of a quality problem. Cause-and-effect diagrams can be used to develop corrective actions and to prevent the problem from recurring.
• Run charts: Run charts are graphs that are used to track the progress of a continuous improvement effort. Run charts can be used to identify trends in performance and to assess the effectiveness of corrective actions.

Quality Management Strategy A quality management strategy is a plan for using quality management models and tools to improve the quality of an operation's products, services, and processes. The strategy should be tailored to the specific needs of the operation and should be aligned with the organization's overall business strategy. Proposed Quality Management Strategy I propose that the furniture company use the following quality management strategy:

• Model: Total Quality Management (TQM)
• Tools: Flow charts, check sheets, Pareto analysis, and cause-and-effect diagrams

Collaboration of Operations Management Functions The following table shows how the operations management functions of marketing and sales, finance, and operations can collaborate to implement the proposed quality management strategy: | Operations Management Function | Role in Implementing the Quality Management Strategy | |---|---|---| | Marketing and Sales | Collect customer feedback on product quality and identify customer needs. Work with the operations team to ensure that products are designed to meet customer needs. | | Finance | Provide funding for quality management initiatives. Track the cost of quality and the benefits of quality improvement efforts. | | Operations | Implement the quality management tools and processes. Train employees on quality management. Monitor and improve the quality of products, services, and processes. | Conclusion The furniture company can use quality management models and tools to prevent quality problems with its furniture products. By implementing a quality management strategy, the company can improve the quality of its products and services, reduce the cost of quality, and increase customer satisfaction. The proposed quality management strategy, which is based on the TQM model and the use of flow charts, check sheets, Pareto analysis, and cause-and-effect diagrams, can be implemented effectively by the operations management functions of marketing and sales, finance, and operations. By collaborating to implement the quality management strategy, the operations management functions can help the company to prevent quality problems, improve its performance, and achieve its business goals.