total quality management
TOH-tul KWOL-ih-tee MAN-ij-ment
ˈtoʊtəl ˈkwɒlɪtiː ˈmænɪdʒməntListen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
a comprehensive management philosophy in which every member of an organization, from the CEO to the front-line worker, participates in improving processes, products, services, and culture to meet or exceed customer expectations; developed from the work of quality theorists W. Edwards Deming, Joseph Juran, and Kaoru Ishikawa; emphasizes continuous improvement (kaizen), customer focus, and fact-based decision-making
Examples
- Total quality management transformed Japanese industry after World War II, partly through Deming's teachings.
- TQM requires quality to be everyone's responsibility, not just the quality department's.
British English tends to say 'KWOL-ih-tee'; American English often says 'KWAHL-ih-tee'.
Synonyms: TQM, total quality control
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