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A Scientific Approach to Total Quality

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A Scientific Approach for Total Quality
Ricardo Colon

PJM – 440 Total Quality Management

Colorado State University – Global Campus

Dr. Victoria Figiel

August 24th, 2015

A Scientific Approach for Total Quality This paper discusses the scientific approach to decision making and problem solving concerning total quality. When combined with total quality tools, the scientific approach can empower employees to commit to a continuous quality improvement culture. I will explain how this effect occurs. Also, a detailed synopsis of my experience related to how quality tools can increase project management success will be provided. Two ways of making decisions stem from examining the results and evaluating the processes applied to the decision making method, (Goetsch, & Davis, 2013). Leaders need objective information to ensure their decisions are based on factual data, (Goetsch, & Davis, 2013). The scientific method applied to total quality provides empirical, factual evidence to support decisions and solving problems, (Goetsch, & Davis, 2013). Meaning, the scientific method can provide decision makers with valuable information to achieve customer satisfaction based on factual information. Customers seek specific metric based results from products and services. Thus, total quality leaders can use the scientific method to collect and analyze data to define customer satisfaction, and make decisions to achieve said parameters. With a large amount of applicable information, decision makers can eliminate assumptions, and require problem solving to include inductive and deductive reasoning, (Port, 2004). The scientific method eliminates waste in the decision making process by requiring leaders to focus on problems rather than symptoms. Examining meaningful data reduces the time spent analyzing information irrelevant to the current problem at hand. An organization can collect large amounts of data, and decision makers need to focus their valuable time on a continuous quest for improvement, (Kerzner, 2013). Combining total quality tools with the scientific approach creates empowered employees capable of seeking continuous quality improvements. Today’s technology and easily accessible information, creates an abundance of data for decision making and problem solving, (Port, 2004). Organizations manage and operate large databases of information to analyze trends and symptoms in processes and activities. A trend in organizational decision making includes implementing statistical software, and automation research tools to capture the measurement applicable to specific problem solving scenarios, (Kerzner, 2013). The scientific method applied to problem solving using technology and software permits decisions makers with meaningful data to find the root cause to organizational issues. The general idea is to discover long-run solutions that are sustainable rather than applying resources to short-run solutions unlikely to prevent reoccurring risks, and problems. There are several statistical tools designed for total quality with elements of the scientific method. For example, a Pareto Analysis includes gathering important information to create a histogram that reveals an organizations significant problems versus less significant issues, (Goetsch, & Davis, 2013). Problems occur because of many variables interacting to create unknown threats impacting desirable outcomes, (Griswold & And, 1993). Total Quality Management is not effective if decision makers are reactionary, (Griswold & And, 1993). Charts and graphs with quantifiable data are great tools to empower employees by visually communicating empirical evidence for improvement opportunities. Also, data tables are another example of total quality tools that apply the scientific method to collect valuable information for specific decisions making processes, (Goetsch, & Davis, 2013). Employees are empowered to collect data vital to decision makers for solutions to achieve customer satisfaction. Having a direct impact on customer satisfaction can create commitment to continuous improvement. My current employer embraces total quality tools to increase the likelihood of project success. For example, when we experience customer issues or complaints, we log a project case describing the issue, possible date for solution, and an action plan to prevent a similar issue moving forward. At the end of each fiscal quarter, all of the logged project cases are categorized into a histogram. The issues are measured in total project time delay per logged case. The graphical information displays the amount of complaints per category, the impact regarding on-time completion, and the cost to the company. Our leadership teams uses this information to focus on specific areas for improvement to dedicate organizational resources for training, and support. Some complaints are measureable, but not controllable. For example, if additional materials are requested after the initial purchase order, the customer may complain about not receiving the additional materials quickly, but our production team can not control architectural changes to the blueprints. Also, our production and project management departments use multiple checklists to systemically collect information regarding materials for purchase orders. The checklists act as data analysis tools to communicate the requested materials throughout the production lifecycle. For example, when a project launches, I print out a warehouse quality control checklist that identifies all the materials on the purchase order, and I send it to the warehouse. In addition, I create work tickets for the materials to be released into production. When the warehouse lays out the manufactured materials for quality control, the warehouse supervisor and the project managers verify the warehouse quality control list is identical to the production work tickets. If there are any discrepancies, the issue must be solved before the materials are packaged for shipping. Lastly, the warehouse quality control checklist is verified against the packing slip provided to the customer. Again, if a discrepancy is found between the warehouse checklist and the packaging slip, the issue must be resolved before shipment is complete. These checklists ensure that our customers satisfaction is met by receiving the correct materials needed to complete their project. In conclusion, the scientific method in total quality provides decision makers with empirical evidence to find sustainable, long-run solutions to significant problems. There are many total quality tools incorporating the scientific method empowering workplace cultures to commit to continuous quality improvement. Improving people, products, and processes increases the chances of customer satisfaction, and maximizes the chances of achieving organizational objectives. Complex action plans based on empirical evidence allows decision makers to quantify the potential results of their solutions.

References

Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. D. (2013). Quality Management for Organizational Excellence: Introduction to Total Quality (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Griswold, P. A., & And, O. (1993). Total Quality Schools Implementation Evaluation: A Concerns-Based Approach.
Kerzner, H. (2013). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Port, O. "The Kings of Quality." Business Week, 2004. Retrieved from: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Pr-Sa/Quality-and-Total-Quality-Management.html#ixzz3kJTN8Qmi

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