Abstract

This article answers the question, "How does a company go from being newly ISO 9000-registered to having a quality system based on the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM)?" It shows how both the ISO 9000-compliant quality system and the structures that were put into place to bring it about are excellent foundations upon which to build a quality system grounded in TQM philosophy.

A company that had no quality system, introduced an ISO 9000 model and then continued to build the TQM philosophy on that foundation. The ISO 9000 standards require management to be involved in leadership and to set the vision in a series of value statements which are communicated throughout the work force via processes and programs. Further topics the article covers are: information and analysis and business results; strategic planning; human resource development and management; process management; customer focus and satisfaction; and leveraging the ISO 9000 project structures.

The structures of ISO 9000 implementation are easily adapted in TQM implementation. This makes a TQM approach a logical enhancement to an ISO 9000-compliant quality system, and ISO 9000 registration a logical first step in establishing TQM in a company.