TQM and 6 Sigma

Referring to (http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c031008a.asp) Total quality management (TQM) is a management philosophy that seeks to integrate all organizational functions (marketing, finance, design, engineering, and production, customer service, etc.) to focus on meeting customer needs and organizational objectives. It is a holistic approach ensuring Quality in their respective products and services, and Management of their processes through the appropriate process improvement channels.TQM was a term transformed from Japanese policy of ‘Total Quality Control’… which was an epilogue to quality assurance.TQM heavily depends on people in other word it is a people dependent. If people are cultured, then the organization is matured. Depending on people, will takes time and patient. Normally, TQM takes 10 years to administer change. So, companies, need to have this in mind when embarking TQM. No shortcut !!!
Since TQM dealing with quality in total, TQM needs a correct strategy. The drawn strategy must inclusive of two main categories of training. (1) Soft skill related training : As a dependent to people , staff in an organization, ranges from CEO to Operator need the soft skill training such as “Behavioral change” , “Teamwork Mindset” , “Positive thinking” etc . (2) Hard skill related training : Once people already have the correct mindset to embark TQM , they need tools to use to fix the quality issue related to their products and services. In early stage of TQM, 7QC tools such as below were implemented.

(1)The Tools are used for Generating Ideas: Check Sheet, Scatter Diagram, Cause and Effect Diagram,
(2)The Tools for Identifying Problems: Histogram, Statistical Process Control Chart, and
(3)The Tools to Organize the Data: Pareto Charts, Flow Charts (Process Diagram)
(4)The Tools to control processes: Affinity Diagrams, Matrix Charts, Process Display Program charts,
(5)The Tools to control projects: Program Evaluation Review Techniques (PERT), Critical Path Method (CPM).

7QC tools work well in a non-complex or quality problem that relate with Quick Win solution. Even all the 7QC tools are used in 3 out of 5 phases in 6 sigma methodology ,which are Define, Measure and Analyze phase to serve the purpose of characterizing your process. More complex quality related problem that needs hypothesis testing , Design Of Experiment or even TRIZ , need to undergo a complete 6 sigma methodology which are Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control or in short (DMAIC). In 6 sigma DMAIC, each phase will has its own deliverable that use a specific tool. Thus 6 sigma is called as “A structure problem solving methodology” that will optimize your process at the desired level that eventually will satisfy your customer in the aspect of Delivery , Quality and Cost of your products or services. To conclude the relation between TQM and 6 sigma is :
“Six Sigma in a journey to TQM”