Nissan case study: Critically analyse the eight elements of total quality management and determine which you believe are present in the above case study. Motivate your answers and provide suggestions to Nissan on how they can incorporate all the elements that are not present.
The eight elements of total quality management (TQM) include customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships.
In the case of Nissan, there are several elements of TQM that are present. Firstly, customer focus can be seen in Nissan's efforts to improve the quality and reliability of their vehicles, as well as their focus on customer satisfaction. Additionally, leadership is evident in Nissan's commitment to quality and their implementation of various quality management initiatives.
Furthermore, Nissan involves people in their quality management processes by empowering employees to contribute ideas and participate in continuous improvement efforts. They also demonstrate a process approach by implementing quality control measures throughout their manufacturing processes.
However, there are some elements of TQM that may be lacking in the case of Nissan. A factual approach to decision making requires the use of data and evidence to inform decision making, but it is not clear if Nissan is effectively utilizing data-driven decision making in their quality management processes.
To incorporate all the elements of TQM, Nissan can start by further enhancing their customer focus. They can collect and analyze customer feedback to identify areas for improvement and prioritize their efforts accordingly. Additionally, Nissan can strengthen their system approach to management by ensuring that quality management practices are integrated into all levels of the organization and across different departments.
To improve their factual approach to decision making, Nissan should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly track and analyze data to inform their decision-making processes. This can help identify trends, highlight areas of concern, and enable proactive problem-solving.
Lastly, Nissan should foster mutually beneficial supplier relationships by working closely with their suppliers to ensure that quality standards are met. This can include setting clear quality requirements, providing regular feedback, and collaborating on quality improvement initiatives.
In conclusion, while Nissan demonstrates several elements of TQM in their quality management practices, there are areas that can be further developed. By incorporating a factual approach to decision making, strengthening their customer focus, and fostering mutually beneficial supplier relationships, Nissan can enhance their overall quality management system.