What is Total Quality Management?
TQM is a management approach where the whole organisation — leaders, staff, suppliers — works continuously to improve products, services and processes to meet customer needs. It draws on the work of Deming, Juran and Crosby and is the foundation of modern quality systems like ISO 9001.
The 8 principles of TQM
- Customer focus — quality is defined by the customer.
- Total employee involvement — everyone owns quality.
- Process-centred — results come from well-run processes.
- Integrated system — departments work as one system.
- Strategic and systematic approach — quality is part of strategy.
- Continual improvement — always getting better.
- Fact-based decision making — data, not opinion.
- Communication — clear, two-way, at every level.
How to implement TQM
- Get visible leadership commitment.
- Define what quality means to your customers.
- Train teams in basic quality tools (PDCA, 5 Whys, Pareto).
- Measure quality at each step, not just at the end.
- Recognise improvements and share them.
How DOOfy helps
TQM depends on fact-based decisions. AIMOS One gives every department the same view of quality data — complaints, returns, rework, delays — so improvement is driven by facts the whole organisation shares.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TQM and Six Sigma?
TQM is a broad, organisation-wide philosophy of quality. Six Sigma is a specific, data-driven project method for reducing defects. Many organisations use Six Sigma within a TQM culture.
Is TQM the same as ISO 9001?
No. ISO 9001 is a certifiable standard for quality management systems; it is built on TQM principles such as customer focus and continual improvement.