understand customer requirements
consider the processes involved in providing quality, not just the end result
prioritise and standardise tasks to deliver quality
educate all employees to work in this way.
In practical terms TQM involves:
identifying customers and their requirements
establishing and using objectives (targets) for all areas of activity
basing decisions on researched hard facts rather than on hunches
identifying and eliminating the root causes of problems
educating and training employees.
TQM is an ongoing process; a way of thinking and doing that requires an 'improvement culture' in which everyone looks for ways of doing better. Building this culture involves making everyone feel their contributions are valued and helping them to develop their capabilities.
A cycle of Plan, Do, Check, Action becomes part of every employee's thinking, because it represents Nissan's way of working.