Total Quality Management is a structured system for satisfying internal and external customers and suppliers by integrating the business environment, continuos improvement, and break through with development, improvement, and maintenance cycles while changing organizational culture. One of the keys to implementing TQM is the idea that it is a structured system. In other words TQM is a strategy derived from internal and external customers and supplier wants and needs that have been determined through daily management. TQM is a very rigorous process for a company to adopt.
In TQM it all starts at the top and goes on down the "company food chain." TQM has to be a way of life for the company. It has to be introduced and led by top management. This is the key point. Attempts to implement TQM often fail because top management doesn't lead and get committed. Commitment and personal involvement is required from top management in creating and developing clear and quality values and goals consistent with the objectives of the company. .
When implementing TQM you need effective leadership by expressing what your company or organization objectives are. As a manager you should be able to develop clear and effective strategies and supporting plans for achieving the objectives. The next step is the identification of the critical processes for the company or organization; the steps that must be done well for the objectives to be achieved.
TQM is not easy to introduce; an open cooperative culture has to be created by management. Employees have to be made to feel that they are responsible for customer satisfaction. They are not going to feel this if they are excluded from the development of visions, strategies, and plans. It is important that they participate in these activities. In a successful TQM environment you will need a well-trained work force that participates fully in quality improvement activities.