Briefly explain the key success factors of total quality management?

While there are no predefined and universally agreed-upon key factors to the success of implementing TQM within an organization, there are few very common areas that have been touched by several researchers that appear to be critical.

1. Organizational Culture & Quality Management:

The values, vision and strategic plan of an organization should be customer focused with clear and a well developed quality management system in order to successfully implement TQM.

2. Work Teams & Individual Employees

An organization's structure with empowered, self-directed teams (consisting of cross-trained members) and the continuous development of its employees supports the smooth installation of TQM.

3. Supplier Management:

Effective supplier management (quality standards, partnership agreements, etc...) is another highly agreed upon factor that did prove significant impact on the implementation of TQM.

Other factors that have been discussed in different researches include top executive commitment to TQM, performance and results measurement/rewarding and process quality management.