The Impact On Quality Control Of Innovations In Continuous Inspection Technology, Algorithms And The Use Of Robots In The Design And Manufacturing Stage Of Product Development

The Impact On Quality Control  Of Innovations In Continuous Inspection Technology, Algorithms And The Use Of Robots In The Design And Manufacturing Stage Of Product Development

TQM, also known as Total Quality Control (TQC), is a management tool for improving total performance. TQC means organized Kaizen activities involving everyone in a company – managers and workers – in a totally systemic and integrated effort toward improving performance at every level. (1000ventures, p.1). Kaizen is a Japanese word that means improvement. Kaizen basically refers to activities that continuously improve all functions in a business setting and encompasses each and every party in the business from the CEO to the tea girl to the sweeper and every department of the business including logistics, finance, purchasing, human resource etc.

Total quality management basically helps avoid having to put the customers/clients through unsatisfactory services or production of low quality products. The experience of poor quality is exacerbated when the responsible parties are not empowered to correct quality inadequacies or do not seem willing to do so. Successful companies such as Honda Motors and Ford Motors have understood the powerful impact customer-defined quality can have on business thus decided to make customer satisfaction their number one priority (Wiley and Sons, 1999).

However, with increased innovations in continuous inspection technology, algorithms and the use of robots in the design and manufacturing stage of product development, we are faced with another problem that makes it harder to fully apply Total Quality Control on the production of products. With many companies being able to skilfully evade meeting high standards of quality set by associated bodies, we are left asking ourselves whether the concepts of Total Quality Control are really being implemented or have been eclipsed by technology.