The TQM Magazine: Volume 5 Issue 1
Table of contents
Riding the waves
Frank PriceThese are hard times. It seems that the harder we try, the poorer we become. Cash which flowed like a Mississippi of money in the 1980s has dried to a fitful trickle, seeped…
Employing the uniqueness factor
Chris AshtonTo successfully ride out the stormy recession, a company needs to sustain its competitive advantage. A major part of this is due to the inclusion of ‘factor X’ — that indefinable…
Improvement framework
B.G. Dale, R.J. BoadenFollowing research on the subject of TQM, the authors decided that what was lacking was a framework for the introduction and development of the process for continuous quality…
A dynamic collaboration
Andrew Lee‐MortimerEspecially in a recession, organisations should try and support one another by developing supplier partnerships to help reduce both costs and risks. Some companies have already…
Supporting cooperation
Anne MatthewsWhen ITS Belfast decided to introduce the Deming approach into the company, bells began to ring for one department. The support staff realised that this approach could be the key…
A variation in understanding
John MorganTo be successful, the voice of the customer needs to be matched to the voice of the process. SPC can be used to close that gap by defining the type of variation that causes the…
The Spanish experience
Penny LeveneAccording to Sistecal, a Spanish quality management consultancy, Spain is going through a TQM boom. Companies are looking both home and abroad for experiences of successful…
Food for thought
David HutchinsTo survive and grow in the future, organisations need to become lean, fast, fit and hungry for success. Like dieters, to change their ‘shape’ organisations need to re‐educate…
Applying quality in redundancy
Graham Oddey, Owen BullTo many people, the thought of quality companies making employees redundant makes a mockery of the whole idea of TQM. This article looks at how both TQM and redundancies can not…
Fuelled by change
Chris AshtonAccording to Ian Wood of John Wood Group Plc, the key to surviving the recession is to continuously diversify and adapt to your strengths.
Cottoning on to the need for change
Melanie WilliamsJohn Cotton Automotive realised that it needed to change the company's culture to one of growth in order to survive.
Sservice you can bank on
Robert CrawfordAccording to the Royal Bank of Scotland, service in the recession is only more of the same. To help it remain competitive, both in and out of recession, it has refocused itself on…
Building up from the recession
P. Leslie gunaratneThe construction industry has been one of the hardest hit industries in this recession. To help ‘make up’ for the inevitable loss of manpower, the need to reduce rework and remain…