Starting Total Quality Management from ISO 9000

Some 20,000 companies have been registered as working to the International Quality Management Standard ISO 9000, but many have not achieved the improvements in their operations that can be obtained from managing on total quality management principles. ISO 9000 can be an excellent start to TQM, if it is interpreted in a way that encourages the company to start on the process of continual improvement by teamwork of all people working in the company. Management needs to see its company as a system, whose aim is to delight its customers. The system is made up of many interlocking processes, which contribute to its performance. The performance of the system needs to be optimized to achieve management’s aim. Shows how the requirements of ISO 9000 can be used to start on the journey towards TQM.