General description

QM refers to an integrated approach by management to focus all functions and levels of an organization on quality and continuous improvement. Over the years TQM has become very important for improving a firm's process capabilities in order to achieve fit and sustain competitive advantages.

TQM focuses on encouraging a continuous flow of incremental improvements from the bottom of the organization's hierarchy.

General features

• Encourages a strategic approach to management at the operational level through involving multiple departments in cross-functional improvements and systemic innovation processes
• Provides high return on investment through improving efficiency
• Works equally well for service and manufacturing sectors
• Allows organizations to take advantage of developments that enable managing operations as cross-functional processes