A commentary on developing work and quality improvement strategies

Total quality management (TQM) has had a significant impact on manufacturing businesses in the latter half of the twentieth century. If it is to continue to have an influence, as Kondo suggests, then it has to broaden its scope and move from manufacturing to services and from services into the community. This is no small challenge; many have started on the TQM journey and attempted to spread the TQM philosophy into the wider community and met with varied success. Clearly, Kondo is correct in asserting that business, to survive, must adopt an international perspective and in a rapidly changing business environment this will require the involvement of people at all levels of business organisations.