Professor Ishikawa[5], of Japan, clearly recognized that training is the firm foundation on which the total cultural change, required by TQM, can be achieved, and, in accepting this as a central and essential philosophy, it must be made clear that any training done must be specifically related to identified training needs of individuals, after the introductory sessions have been completed.
These individual needs will become apparent, as the teams are formed and start to assess the areas for improvement, and the whole basis of training activity must therefore be seen as an essential, continuous support structure to TQM.