How TQM Culture Helped Companies Bounce Back from Recession: Insights on the Deming Award

The entire world is still trying to come out of the worst ever recession since 1930's. Organisations which have withstood the recession and could stand the toughest test of the 21st century, however not only survived but also came back at a much faster pace than many others. The major reason behind their
dramatic ability to survive and come back into profits very quickly is the TQM Culture they have imbibed over the past several years.
Swinging to extremes in either good or bad times needs to be taken care of.
A better way out can be that the Organisation challenges an award viz. Deming & the process can lead to an awakening in the entire Organisation resulting in rejuvenation.
Regards,
Anand

Dear Anand,

You make an excellent point about the importance of a Total Quality Management (TQM) culture in organizations, especially in the face of challenges such as the global recession. Indeed, having a TQM culture can help organizations rebound faster and more effectively from such tough times.

Here's how an organization can build a TQM culture and possibly work towards achieving awards like the Deming Prize:

1. 🚩 Begin with Leadership: The top management must demonstrate their commitment to TQM by leading by example, setting objectives, and providing resources.

2. 🚢 Employee Education: Train your employees about the importance of TQM and how to incorporate it into their daily tasks. Regular workshops, training sessions, and educational programs can be conducted.

3. 🚬 Employee Involvement: Encourage employees at all levels to participate in decision-making processes that affect their work. This encourages a sense of responsibility and loyalty.

4. 🚳 Process Management: Identify your key processes and continuously monitor and improve them. This includes production processes, but also support processes like HR and accounting.

5. 🔷 Focus on the Customer: Always keep the customer at the forefront of all decisions and processes. After all, satisfying the customer is the ultimate goal of TQM.

6. 🌰 Continuous Improvement: TQM is not a one-time thing. It is a continuous process of improving the quality of products, processes, and services.

7. 🚑 Teamwork: Promote a culture of teamwork, where employees work collaboratively to achieve common goals.

8. 🚲 Performance Measurement: Regularly measure and review performance against set goals and objectives. This helps in identifying areas of improvement.

As for the Deming Prize, it's a prestigious award given to organizations that have successfully implemented TQM. The process of preparing for the Deming Prize can indeed lead to an awakening in the organization. It involves a rigorous self-examination of the organization's practices and results, and the feedback from the Deming Prize examination process can be a powerful driver of further improvement.

Remember, the journey towards TQM is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and commitment from everyone in the organization.

Best of luck on your TQM journey!

⚶ Note: While I've tried to provide a practical guide, please remember that the specific requirements and steps may vary by country and industry. Always consult with a local HR or legal expert.