Managing Quality, 6th Edition

Chapter Thirteen Managing Quality: New Challenges

B. G. Dale, J. Bamford, D. Bamford and A. van der Wiele

Introduction

This chapter puts forward the argument that there are two kinds of quality management – ‘old’ or classical quality management and ‘new’ quality management. The aim of classical quality management was to analyse errors and eliminate their causes and the associated variation by improved product and process design. In recent times a number of major changes have taken place, resulting in increased volatility in key areas of business which ‘old’ quality management has difficulty in addressing. These changes are being driven by developments in production operations, competitive pressure, the need for improved results from the financial market and reduction of buying points. This has led to pressure on prices, performance and innovation and the need for increased flexibility, agility and economics of scale, with a concentration on core competencies within the business. This situation demanded the development of a ‘new’ form of quality management.

Developments

The management and improvement of quality have gone through a number of key learning points. They are, in approximate chronological order:

• Detection and elimination of defects by traditional quality control and engineering methods.
• Specification and use of quality management systems.
• The impact of Japanese competition on businesses, in particular the automotive and electronics sector. This resulted in accelerated ...