Quality Management in Logistics

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is the leading large-format general merchandise and discount retailer in the U.S., challenging Wal-Mart in electronics, toys and apparel while also seeking to differentiate with higher-end fashions and products for an upscale audience. As of the close of their latest fiscal year (FY2011), Target operated approximately 1,760 stores encompassing 233,000 square feet in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The company is divided into the retail and credit card divisions and moves the majority of its products through a highly integrated network of 37 different distribution centers, which include four food distribution centers. Target is one of the most well-entrenched large format retailers in the U.S., has the ability to manage their pricing strategies at a level of accuracy and precision that is comparable to Wal-Mart (Henderson, 2001). Unlike Wal-Mart, Target concentrates on a value-based message that concentrates on quality and price differentiation to sustain their gross margins while Wal-Mart concentrates on supply chain efficiency and a continual reduction of supplier and transaction costs (Krishnamurthi, 2001).

Quality Management is viewed as a vital factor for the long-term achievement of an organization. Quality Management implementation has been an imperative viewpoint for enhancing organizational performance. The connections between quality management and execution have been explored by various researchers. While analyzing the relationship between quality management and execution, researchers have utilized distinctive execution sorts, for example, budgetary, creative, operational and quality execution. Research on quality administration has analyzed the connections between the Total quality administration and organization's performance. Quality management concentrates on continuous change of processes inside the organization to give excellent

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a complete and structured approach to organizational management that seeks to make better the quality of products and services through ongoing refinements in answer to continuous feedback. The importance and value of TQM was stressed by European Foundation of Quality Management to reach total customer satisfaction. TQM necessities may be defined separately for a organization or may be in adherence to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 9000 series. Total Quality Management can define aims for the continuous improvement in all levels and functions of the organization. The continuous improvement suggests that quality management system should be a circle.

The article highlighted several areas on how quality management affects the performance of an organization. Studies done have come back with mixed results. Some studies have proven that implementing quality implementation can have many benefits to an organization. However some studies have shown that organizations that have implemented total quality managements do not necessarily outperform organizations that do not or have not implemented total quality management programs. Of the results that have been published for organizations that had issues with quality management implementation several

This case analysis explores quality management issues as it pertains to Trexler, a supplier of Integrated Devices, and suggestions to process improvement in order to increase quality throughout the value chain. This paper critically deciphers the weaknesses and opportunity areas that Integrated Logistics should research before continued business with Trexler is attempted. This analysis includes research and best practices outlined by Monczka, Handfield, Giunipero, and Patterson (2011) relative to the case study.

Yasin and Alavi (1999) conducted a quantitative study to determine if Total Quality Management (TQM) can produce quality improvement

Quality management is an act that monitor all activities that needed to maintain and sustain high quality output, continuous improvement of process and product to a desire level of excellence in order to create customer satisfaction (Flynn, Schroeder, & Sakakibara, 1994, p. 342). Nowadays, increase in globalization and international trade had led to the increase of competition in the global market. The increase of competition had forced companies to focus on the concept of quality in their business and discover that effective quality management can increase their competitive advantage in the global market (Anderson, Rungtusanatham, & Schroeder, 1994).

The President Ralph Larsen has realized that Wengart has some major problems with the quality however he is focusing on the profitability instead of the longevity of the company. He needs to have the team focus on improving the quality problem or the company’s profits will continue to decrease. Larsen in the effort to improve the quality has decided to seek out help from an OD practitioner who suggests to Ralph to implement Top Quality Management (TQM). Larsen feels that this should be easy to implement and hands it off to Kent Kelly the Vice President. He feels that the TQM program was a matter of common sense (Brown, 2011, p. 365).

First, it is essential to decompose the concept “Total Quality Management” to clearly understand its goal: “Total” goes for the fact that quality involves everyone and all activities in the company, “Quality” means conformance to Requirements “ Meeting Customer Requirements” and “Management” because Quality can and must be managed. 2 The TQM model is based on the hypothesis that a company’s survival is only possible if a competitive level is achieved and maintained for each of the so called «6 dimensions of quality»: • • • • • • Product & service quality On-time delivery Fair price Employees satisfaction Product & process safety Environment conservation.

Quality management is a structured approach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through continual refinements in response to continuous feedback (Gharakhani, 2013). Thus, it necessitates the consistent application of the appropriate human and technical processes, tools and techniques. A strategic quality strategy will be effective only through long-term commitment and dedicated application by executive management and all employees (Gharakhani, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to converse on implementing successful quality improvement practices within organizations to help achieve viable quality management. Further, this paper also highlights the conditions that must be in place such as management commitment, employee involvement, communication, and continuous improvement for successful quality management to be aligned with ISO 9000.

The text defines total quality management (“TQM”) as end to end organizational focus on quality of products and services, from suppliers to customers. Companies engaged in TQM are dedicated to provide excellence in all aspects of

The success of the business is now more related to quality improvement. In retail, quality is related to all the shapes and characteristics of locations, assortments,

Introduction - Total quality management (TQM) has been defined as ‘continuous improvement of every production output whether it be a product or a service, by removing inefficient variations and by improving the backbone of the work process’. International managers like their domestic counterparts have found that incorporating the notion of total quality management into their management process and style can give the competitive advantage.

It is known to us, “in each industry, the customer is god, is operator's food and clothing parents.” This tells us that customers are important to organizations. With the current intense competition in logistics nowadays, most companies can provide high quality goods, even are willing to cut down prices if reasonable. However, how can suppliers gain a competitive advantage when high quality is expected and price must be maintained at a level to generate a reasonable return? In our views, it is no doubt that how various supplier service activities are valued by customers, more specifically, that is, the ability of logistics

Continuous improvement of all activities is at the heart of TQM. it is recognized that customer satisfaction can only be obtained by providing a high-quality product, continuous improvement of the quality of the product. It is seen as the only way to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction. As well as recognizing the connection between product quality and customer satisfaction, TQM also recognizes that product quality is the result of process quality. As a result, there is a focus on continuous improvement of the organization’s processes.