What is TQM?

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach that originated in the 1950s and strives to improve quality and performance to meet or exceed customer expectations. TQM integrates all functions and processes within an organization to achieve continuous improvement of the quality of goods and services. It involves all members of an organization in improving processes, products, services, and the culture in which they work. Key elements of TQM include customer focus, total employee involvement, process-centered approach, integrated system, strategic and systematic approach, continual improvement, fact-based decision making, and communications.