TQM - Need for Continuous Quality Improvement

TQM 

Need for Continuous Quality Improvement

Quality is a competitive advantage in the market place. This means a company must have the same or better quality than its competitors. The quality of competitors, however is constantly improving. This situation keeps a company improving quality continuously to remain a viable force in the market place.

Gaps in quality between competitors mean a substantial competitive advantage to the quality leader. Too great a gap could result in the quality follower losing market share or going out of business. Once a gap in quality is recognized by customers, it will take a long time for the quality follower to regain needed confidences in the market place.

Once customer perceptions about inferior quality are formed they are hard to change. The message is clear.Companies can no longer tolerate adverse gaps in product quality between their products and those of their competitors. To prevent this, viable program of continuous improvement must be developed and put in to practice.