Quality Management Questions - Assignment Example

Quality Management Questions 1. Defining Quality Quality has no standard definition that is universally accepted by all the quality gurus. However, some quality gurus like Doctor Juran, define quality as conformance to requirement/set standards. Normally, quality entails the process of producing goods and services by eliminating any defects that may lead to the production of low quality products by the end of the production process. This means that quality is an ongoing process that involves continuous performance improvement. Quality focuses at ensuring that goods and services produced meet and exceeds the needs and anticipation of the customers. An organization should understand that quality involves meeting and exceeding dynamic needs of all the groups. For example, the needs of consumers may be met by providing goods and services that are in line with customer’s needs and wants. On the contrary, the needs of external customers may be met by carrying out comprehensive marketing research to identify the specific needs of external customers and look for ways of meeting those needs better. Additionally, the needs of internal customers may be met and exceeded by obtaining feedback from the internal customers and applying the feedback obtained to carry out necessary continuous improvements (Evans & Lindsay, 2011). 2. Deming  Edward Deming put forth the fourteen principles of effective quality management. Among the four major Deming philosophies that may be applied to improve learning and performance in classroom, include use of training on the job to ensuring that there is continuous improvement throughout the learning process, creation of constant of purpose, education implementation, and self-improvement. The philosophy of training on the job may be employed in academic environment to ensure that learning and classroom performance have been improved. Learners should be equipped with the foundation knowledge to prepare them for intermediate and advanced areas of knowledge. Further learners should be allowed to form teamwork so that they can learn from each other. For example, learners may be given an opportunity to interact and discuss issues that they had learnt in the classroom so that they can help each other to understand concepts that they dint capture well in the classroom (Blankenship & Peter, 1999). The second philosophy, involves continuous improvement. This philophy may be employed to improve performance through utilization of various tools in evaluating performance to determine whether there are some improvements. In case, the model has indicated that performance was not fully improved necessary adjustments could be made. For example, the teaching methodologies could be adjusted. Moreover, the tutor may employ some aided designs to help learners understand concepts that being taught. Such design may help learners to improve their performance because they can see what is being taught for quick remembrance. The third philosophy involves creation of constant of purpose. The constancy of purpose involve the following four questions namely; where are we, where are we going, where do we want to be and how do we reach there? Constancy of purpose focuses on establishment of long-term plans. This philosophy may be employed in a classroom situation to continuously improve learner’s performance through prior planning. The forth philosophy involves education implementation and self-improvement. For example, student’s skills could be improved by assisting them to understand areas that are quite challenging. The philosophy may also be employed in ensuring that students learn continuously so that they can get equipped with skills that may help them to face tough examinations (Blankenship & Peter, 1999). 3. Process Management   The major similarities between Deming Cycle Methodology and Kaizen approach is that the two approaches aims at ensuring that there is continuous quality improvements. Secondly, the two processes involve people who participate in carrying out necessary task of ensuring that continuous quality improvement exercise becomes a success (West, 2008). In addition, the tool models focus at utilizing decision making based approaches to eliminate flows and ensure that there is effectiveness and efficiency in quality improvements. Both Deming Cycle methodology and Kaizen approach involves application of tools and techniques towards quality improvement. Moreover, the two approaches are based on some predefined principle that is followed in ensuring that quality improvement is continuously carried out (Heldman & Mangano, 2011). On the other hand, Deming Cycle Methodology and Kaizen approach tends to differ in numerous ways. For example, Deming cycle methodology is based on four stages namely, planning, Doing, checking, and Acting. On the contrary, the Kaizen approach involves the following stages, process development, and understanding, resource allocation, establishing communication with the employees. In addition, Deming cycle methodology is based on the fourteen principles of quality improvement while Kaizen approach is based on the three basic principles namely; taking into consideration quality process and outcome, establishing a systematic process of addressing each and every problem after another to avoid messing up during the process. The third approach involves utilizing Kaizen Model using non-judgmental means in order to effectively address all the problems in each stage effectively without making mistakes. Unlike Deming principle methodologies which are either philosophical or knowledge in nature, Kaizen model comprises of variety of methods. Some of those methods include; individual’s verses team methods, day to day learning versus unique events and finally, process versus sub process (Vajcnerova & Ryglova, 2010). 4. Poka-Yokes    Poka-Yokes entail an approach used in detecting and preventing mistakes from happening by either alerting or stopping the process to continue. As a student, Poka-yoke process may be employed in various situations. There are several sources of errors that may occur especially during examinations for example spelling errors and entering wrong of figures in an answers booklet. Those may be some of the example of sources of errors that are common to the majority of the student. Such errors could lead to low grades and poor performance among the students. Therefore, Poka-Yokes approach may be employed to prevent and detect those errors from happening. For example, students should proofread their work during and after completion of the paper in order to identity and eliminate errors. Secondly, one should practice keenness when compelling the paper to ensure that there are no errors in the paper (Gitachu, 2014). 5. Balanced Scorecard SWOT analysis might be used to identifying measures in a balanced scored. This may be done by identify the four elements within the scorecard and using the Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats model for analysis. The type of questions that might be asked within the balanced scored card using SWOT analysis may be categories into four categories. The first category of questions that might be asked falls under customers and market SWOT analysis. Some of the questions in this category include; what can customers view that the company can offer to them well, what are the issues that are being reported by the customers to the organization that may need to be addressed before it is too late? The third category of questions may fall under human resource SWOT analysis. In this category, some questions such as what kind of skill may be needed by worker in the future may be asked. Another question under this category entails what skills and abilities that might require making some improvements among the workers in an organization. The third category involves SWOT analysis on internal process. In this category some questions such as what are the weakness do the competitors have, which measures could be adopted so that o organization can become more competitive as compared to other organization. The fourth category entails involve utilization of SWOT analysis in analyzing organization financial strength. Some of the questions that may be asked under this category include; which financial categories resources are properly managed within our organization, what areas of financial strength do our competitors have that we don’t have? (Cochran, 2006). 6. Leadership Competencies  One of the examples of my personal experience where a leader displayed some of the key leadership competencies was when I was working as an Intern at Techno Innovative solution. The senior manager of the organization displayed some leadership competencies such as; thinking innovatively, engagement leadership where he used to involve both higher and lower level employees in decision-making. Moreover, he exhibited strong ethical /values such as honesty and integrity throughout his leadership. He further exhibited excellence outcomes by delivering outcomes that meet and exceeded the anticipations of different stakeholders. 7. Statistical Methods The difference between the three major components of statistical methodology includes; Descriptive statistics entail the use of numbers to represent as well as to provide a summary of a given set of data. However, the data presented may not allow the users to make any conclusion that is beyond the data provided. On the other hand, Statistical inference entails forming a conclusion from a given data that is subject to variations that are based on randomly selected data. Predictive statistics involves a statistical method that utilizes numerous techniques to make prediction of another set of statistical data. The above three distinction might be important to manager because it may help the manager to determine the most effective method to be used in making decision. In addition, the above three distinction may help the manager to make prediction and get prepared in dealing with the challenges (Barnett, 1999). 8. Six Sigma    The Six-sigma training was important in the organization because it could help in equipping employees with the necessary knowledge required for implementing continues quality improvement. Therefore, I believe, that the descriptive was motivational because it was aimed at developing employs skills so that they can implement quality improvement in an organization. However, I believe that the description violated W.Edward Deming’s maxim that a leader must “cast fear”. This is because the principle states that workers should be made to feel that they are valued as well as allow them to look for better ways of doing things rather than forcing them to use your ways. In addition, fear should be removed by establishing open avenues where employees can air their views and therefore, it can be observed from this case that employees were not given a chance to air their views on whether the liked the move (Rojas, 2014). 9. Designing for Product Excellence The basic concept of designing a product excellence involves application of creative marketing design to ensure that a product performance has been enhanced so that is can excel successfully in the market. Further designing for product excellence helps to ensure that customers’ needs are adequately met. The basic concept in designing for product excellence entails activities such as market and manufacturing process development, material selecting which different specialist to enhance quality and minimize amount of time that could be taken during the design process normally does. However, care should be taken during the design process because it may affect manufacturability and environmental responsibilities. For instance, a wrong prototype may be produce beside what was anticipated (Heldman & Mangano, 2011). 10. Control Charts    The methodology of constructing involves extracting a sample size from a manufacturing process that is ongoing and then from this sample different Control charts with different variability are created. After creating different control charts from the sample, the charts are assessed to determine whether they fall within the predefined limit. This is done by taking into consideration whether each chart is adjacent to the targeted location, if the chart is outside the predefined limit the process is declared to be out of control. In order to interpret the control chart one should look on the vertical and horizontal axis to be able to understand and interpret the presented relationship. In some situation, differences might be observed on out-of control indicators. The possible cause of this different may be caused by variations on the sample Rojas, 2014). References Barnett, V. (1999). Comparative Statistical Inference. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Blankenship, B., & Peter, P.B. (1999). W. Edwards Deming's mentor and others who made a significant impact on his views during the 1920s and 1930s. Journal of Management History, 5(8), 454.  Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 116350143). Cochran.C. (2006).Building a Balanced Score Card. Retrieved:14.04.2014 Evans, J., & Lindsay, W. (2011). Managing for quality and performance excellence (8th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage. ISBN: 9780324783209 Gitachu.D. (2014).Poka Yoke: Examples of Mistake-Proofing in Everyday Products .Retrieved:14.04.2014 Heldman, K., & Mangano, V. (2011). PMP: Project management professional exam review guide. Indianapolis, Ind: Wiley. Rojas.E. (2014).Importance of Six-Sigma Quality Scenario. Retrieved :< http://smallbusiness .chron.com/importance-six-sigma-quality-scenarios-43792.html>>>14.04.2014 Vajcnerova, I., & Ryglova, K. (2010). The application of quality management principles into the management of the destination. The Business Review, Cambridge, 16(1), 306-311. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2214758891). West, J. (2008). ISO 9001 and advantage in the marketplace. Quality Progress, 41(4), 73-76. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1482185281). Read More