Total Quality Pioneers Paper

Total Quality Pioneers Paper

"Quality is a dynamic state associated with products, services, people, processes, and environments that meets or exceeds expectations and helps produce superior value" (Goetsch & Davis, 2010, p. 5). Goetsch and Davis go on to say that there are eleven key elements of total quality, including strategically based, customer focus, obsession with quality, scientific approach, long-term commitment, teamwork, continual process improvement, education and training, freedom through control, unity of purpose, and employee involvement and empowerment (2010).

Considered the founder of the quality movement, W. Edwards Deming once said, "Does experience help? NO! Not if we are doing the wrong things" (Thinkexist, 2010). Deming introduced the Deming Cycle, linking the production of a product with consumer needs and focusing the resources of the research, design, production, and marketing departments in a cooperative effort to meet those needs (Goetsch & Davis, 2010, p. 15). Deming also formed the Fourteen Points summarizing his views on what a company must do to effect a positive transition from business as usual to excellent quality (Goetsch & Davis, 2010, p. 15). In addition, Deming created the Seven Deadly Diseases, which summarize the factors he believed can inhibit such a transformation (Goetsch & Davis, 2010, p. 15).

Deming believed management was "a significant part of the problem" (Holusha, 1993). This was the philosophy behind the freedom of control element and why this, and the other ten elements, is still useful in today's environment. Keeping the focus on the consumer, allowing the worker to make improvements, and never accepting