Quality as a source of empowerment

Abstract

Among the three important managerial indicators, quality, cost and productivity, the human history of quality is far more long‐standing and quality is the only item of common concern to both manufacturer and customer: quality is a more “human” concept than either cost or productivity. Senior managers’ appeals to improve quality are more easily accepted and difficult to refuse than calls to cut cost or improve productivity. Quality is a powerful source of employees’ empowerment. A company’s basic business philosophy is of fundamental importance to make itself attractive to its employees and customers, as well as its shareholders, and to continue to develop healthily instead of merely pursuing profit. Because of the nature of this quality, it is extremely important to talk to everyone in the company about their basic philosophy regarding quality and the quality management activities to ensure that quality. Strong sense of responsibility of employees is indispensable to achieve the work aims, and the following two conditions must be fulfilled: the aims of the work must be clearly stated; and the people must be given as great a degree of freedom as possible in the means and methods by which they can achieve the aims. Also outlines the steps leading to creativity.

Citation

Kondo, Y. (1997), "Quality as a source of empowerment", The TQM Magazine, Vol. 9 No. 5, pp. 357-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/09544789710178640