Review elements of total quality management (TQM) for resources that keep you informed. Stay abreast of industry developments through articles on total quality management, journal research-data, postings on blogs, conferences and seminars, trade associations, product updates, community forums and other types of TQM information.

Transfer findings to your business team by incorporating TQM theory into company operations. Familiarize yourself with Six Sigma, a leading total quality management tool that uses statistics to gauge the quality of work your business provides. The total quality management system refers to exceptional relations with customers, results-focused improvement of managerial skills and data directed fact-finding.

1. Study total quality management articles.

2. Attend industry events to keep up with new developments.

3. Participate in educational and networking programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Access literature to stay on top of total quality management news and trends

Read journal articles, magazines, blog updates, newsletters and other resources about total quality management systems. Such sources are replete with the latest trends in TQM data management, emerging industry leaders, total quality management in business case studies and other intelligence.

I recommend: Subscribe to Six Sigma Magazine and learn about businesses that successfully use total quality management systems. Acquire articles about managing data including TQM information at SearchDataManagement.com. Review the Embedded Star blog or sign up for their newsletter to gain regular updates on total quality management information.

Take part in seminars and associations to stay connected to TQM information

Joining a trade association is a great way to keep up with TQM news and trends. Look for membership that includes resources, tools and networking opportunities. In addition, attend seminars and trainings to keep current on TQM issues. Find companies with a successful history of providing total quality management training.

I recommend: Contact Wolf Management Consultants to attend their hands-on workshops that incorporate case studies, role-play and group dynamics to total quality management theory. Peruse the comprehensive record of seminars and trainings on total quality management in business at Training.com. Join the American Society for Quality, a global leader in the field of total quality management.

Communicate in forums to stay abreast of total quality management theories

Interacting in community forums is another way to keep on top of news and trends in total quality management. Community networks generally bring together industry experts and leaders to exchange ideas, career updates and research for specific topics.

I recommend: Contact other TQM professionals through Xing, a worldwide business network for promoting careers and conducting business. Join the peer forum at AMR Research, the leading research firm that connects business systems with emerging technologies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Gain a historical perspective of total quality management by researching W. Edwards Deming, the individual who founded total quality management.

If you've worked in corporate America anytime in the last several decades, chances are you've heard about total quality management (TQM). Specific ins and outs of TQM theory have risen and fallen in popularity over the years, but the basic idea behind a total quality management system—improving process and performance to achieve long-term success—will never go out of style. Whether you're a business owner or part of a corporate team, a solid understanding of the elements can pay off in happier customers, happier employees and a bottom line profit that makes you happy.

Reams of total quality management information are available, but don't let that turn you off. Cutting this topic down to size and making it work for your specific situation is not as hard as it seems. The key is to find the best resources, and focus on real-life applications of the theory. Reduced to its most basic tenets, the elements of total quality management are:

1. Total quality management involves every person and process in the organization.

2. Quality products and services for the customer is top priority.

3. Management is responsible for hiring the right employees, providing a pleasant work environment and making sure the system works.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire a TQM consultant

A TQM consultant can provide a range of services designed to integrate TQM theory in the culture, organization and business processes of your company.

I recommend: Wolf Management Consultants work with all your organization’s members, and ensure that your infrastructure can support and sustain TQM efforts. Organized Change Consultancy tailors its TQM approach to your business and preferences.

Train yourself in total quality management systems

You may think you're too busy to take a class, but principles of total quality management can actually cut down your workload while boosting your efficiency. Complete an online course at your own pace; the best ones mirror business school classes, integrating elements of total quality management with real-life implementation strategies you can use right away.

I recommend: Flex Study offers a comprehensive, self-guided course in total quality management, from the history of total quality management theories to implementation of a total quality management system. Lean Advisors, Inc. offers an online course with a set price for 20 users, each of whom can move at an individual pace.

Invest in your career with TQM certification

TQM quality certification doesn't just give you a well-rounded foundation in TQM management systems. Potential customers will appreciate your company's commitment to excellence and quality. Include the designation in your advertising brochures. On the personal side, when you list the TQM certification on your resume, you can give yourself an edge over the competition if you're looking for a job and actually increase your salary potential.

I recommend: The American Society for Quality is a recognized authority in quality certification, and offers a variety of specialized certifications. Rutgers School of Business offers online certification in total quality management.

Read as many total quality management articles as you can

Although TQM is a relatively easy system to learn, it will behoove you to read up on what others say about the efficiency, as well as pros and cons, of implementing TQM theory in your business practices.

I recommend: The Total Quality Management Free Article Library at Work911 lists several free total quality management articles.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Over-exposure of TQM in the 1980s and 1990s led to some backlash in the business world. Now the phrase 'total quality management' is often shortened to 'quality management.'

Six Sigma, a total quality management (TQM) system, is a process measurement tool that uses statistics to calculate the degree of excellence provided by a product or service. Six Sigma represents a quality level that ranks near-perfection with approximately three defects per million. Most businesses operate at about four-sigma, a figure that represents more than 6,000 defects per million opportunities. They forfeit approximately 15% of their total revenue due to defects. TQM theory and training for total quality management puts customers first, uses data driven facts and focuses on results-oriented management skill development with a hands-on approach.

W. Edwards Deming developed total quality management to increase the production quality of goods and services after World War II. TQM theory includes four main principles. The first doctrine refers to interconnected relationships in which synergistic relationships are essential to enhance performance and production. The second principle speaks of ongoing self-improvement and evaluation. The third belief refers to a system of continuous process. The fourth principle alludes to management being responsible for the success and training for total quality management.

1. Investigate training-based TQM information.

2. Acquire total quality management systems software.

3. Participate in educational and networking programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tap total quality management theory at colleges and universities

Explore progressive programs that use streaming video and other state-of-the-art training techniques. In addition, look for certified online or in-person educational programs that incorporate total quality management system theory.

I recommend: Train at Michigan Engineering. Industry professors and investigation scientists teach this online certification program that resides at the University of Michigan. Study total quality management at the University of South Florida. Obtain your TQM certificate through their department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering.

Invest in software applications that use total quality management theories

Purchase systems that thoroughly study data, decide the significant factors and engage in data-based decision making. Look for software that manages data and analyzes it with implementation capabilities for green belt projects at the minimum. For instance, some programs provide comprehensive platforms for green belts, black belts and master black belts, classification for executors and overseers of Six Sigma processes.

I recommend: Contact StatSoft, Inc., the makers of STATISTICA, a complete statistical analysis program that serves as a platform for any size of Six Sigma program. Communicate with QE Tools, LLC, for user-friendly, excel-based applications that support most Six Sigma greenbelt projects.

Hire companies that use TQM theories customized for your unique circumstance

Use elements of total quality management to enhance your job productivity and increase customer satisfaction. Transform your business with total quality management information.

I recommend: Contact Rath and Strong for total quality management training. They provide a hands-on approach that is tailor-made to fit your company. Get in touch with TPS-Lean Six Sigma to acquire certified, custom-made programs that include TQM coach and consultant training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Study total quality management articles and industry-based literature to maximize your training. Review TQM information on a regular basis to stay current on total quality management in business.

Total quality management (TQM) is an approach to management that holds all individuals responsible for product or service improvement. Total quality management includes a number of ways to analyze and measure the progress of individuals and groups in all areas of production. In this type of management, competition is carefully watched and benchmarking processes are used to improve a company's own brand and product.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Quality awareness

Quality awareness is the ability of employees in an organization to recognize values in the quality of a service or product they produce. Quality awareness also leads to creating specific policies for quality throughout the organization.

I recommend: Quality Integration provides an expanded definition of quality awareness and how this is used in modern business environments.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance is the process of checking a company's product or service to ensure that it meets the standards set forth by the company. Quality assurance teams work to improve areas where quality does not meet standards.

I recommend: The American Society for Quality provides resources and information on quality practices and theories for businesses.

Performance appraisal

Performance appraisal is a method of evaluating employees. This type of evaluation helps to further career development by providing feedback on an employee's performance. The appraisal also helps to determine any changes needed throughout the organization.

I recommend: The Performance Management and Appraisal Help Center provides many resources for different performance appraisal systems.

Strategic quality management

Strategic quality management is the process of creating and implementing a quality system for an organization using long-term objectives and goals.

I recommend: Quality Digest provides an article on integrating quality into strategic planning for success in quality management.

Compensation system

An organization's compensation system determines bonuses and commissions for employees based on the quality of their work. Certain compensation systems use the quality of the product or service to determine a fair compensation system.

I recommend: Authoria provides information on different compensation strategies and solutions for businesses wanting to improve quality.

Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is the measure of how well a product is received by consumers. In total quality management, customer satisfaction is used to measure the quality standards currently in place to see if improvement is necessary.

I recommend: The National Business Research Institute provides different strategies for measuring customer satisfaction.