Page 10 - MODULE QUALITY TOOLS DMQ 30262

DMQ 30262

Example 1.3:
Describe W.E. Deming's plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle as a process for

continual improvement.

Solution:

W.E. Deming proposed the plan-do- study -act (PDSA) cycle as a process for
continual improvement. The plan phase involves identifying problems to be

solved, data gathering, data analysis, and development of recommendations.
The do phase involves implementing the solution on a trial basis. Study
consists of a post-implementation study to ascertain whether or not the

implementation resulted in the expected outcome. Finally, act involves either
adjusting the original implementation due to problems resulting from the change

or making the changes permanent if the implementation was effective in making
improvement.

EXERCISE 1.1

Why is it important to pursue quality management from a systems perspective?

SOLUTION:

A system is a collection of related parts, like the different departments in a

business organization. The different departments in a business organization do
not operate in a vacuum, but are instead interrelated and interdependent. As a
result, when studying the different departments in a business, it is helpful to

adopt a "systems perspective." A systems perspective recognizes that all of the
parts of an organization are interrelated, and recognizes the mutual
dependencies between the individual departments.

It is important to pursue quality management from a systems perspective, which

recognizes that the quality management practices implemented in one
department of an organization, will have a direct bearing on the types of
practices that must be implemented in another department. In addition, to be a

successful quality managed firm, a business or organization must balance the
needs of its different departments or functional areas around a coherent

business vision and strategy.

KKTM Kuantan 9 DMQ 30262