Total Quality Management



Introduction

Organization which I have selected to analyze in terms of its abilities and approach towards Total Quality Management is Acme Inc. Acme Inc. markets and manufactures different laundry detergents for different household target markets. Acme Corporation employs different strategies towards continuous improvement in the internal processes, performance of employees and quality of its products. This way Acme Corporation has developed certain continuous improvement abilities and associated behavior in accordance with the Bessant and Caffyn framework. In this paper, those abilities and associated behavior on the part of Acme Corporation are identified, the extent to which Acme Corporation displays the constituent behavior is assessed, and recommendations are made to improve those abilities and associated behavior that potentially affect overall quality management system of Acme Corporation.

Discussion

Focusing on CI

Focusing on Continuous Improvement is one of the ability Acme Corporation displays.

Acme Corporation use self-assessment tools in order to measure its current status on Continuous Improvement (CI). Acme Corporation use self-assessment tools and processes to develop deeper understanding of fundamental principles of Continuous Improvement as it results in increased motivation on the part of employees to participate in subsequent improvement activities. The following are the behavioral norms and supporting activities which can be found in Acme Corporation which focuses on Continuous Improvement.

Self assessment tools and processes help Acme Corporation in identifying actionable opportunities for improvement. In today's business environment which is highly competitive, Acme corporation need to avail every opportunity that gives a company an edge over its competitors. By using self-assessment tools and processes, Acme leadership strives to become top quality detergent producer on the price that can be matched with the major competitors. Self-Assessment tools used by Acme Corporation are based on Georgia Oglethorpe Criteria for Performance Excellence that uses Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria to assess management and leadership system (Nadia & Amit, 2005, Pp. 761).

The Primary benefit that Acme Corporation gets through Self-Assessment tools and processes is the systematic approach and a framework that effectively identifies key issues for Acme's annual and strategic planning purposes. This systematic approach and framework help Acme prioritize and make organizational improvements. Acme laid its annual goals (in terms of sales or market share etc.), provides a deeper understanding for performance excellence criteria to its employees through training and education and links that performance excellence with the overall goals and objectives of the organization.

Behavioral Norms

ACTIVITIES

Business Understanding: Employees of Acme Corporation demonstrate understanding and awareness of organization's considerations and goals.

Education/training in Continuous Improvement Tools (such as fishbone diagram, brainstorming etc.) that develops understanding of organizational goals and considerations at deeper level. (2) Suggestion management system which timely responds to the valuable ideas of employees which can improve process/way of doing thing and can potentially accelerate the pace of Acme Corporation towards attaining its goals. These suggestions can also result in amendments in goals/strategies to achieve those goals of Acme Corporation.

Strategic Focus: Individual and groups at Acme use organization's strategic objectives and goals to prioritize and focus their improvement ...