​As the name implies , TQM is focused on quality.

TQM Manifesto-
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• Quality first: In a TQM environment, everyone talks about quality, thinks about quality and measures quality at every turn.
• Employee engagement- In a TQM workspace, if an employee notices something incorrect or causing defects, the employee has the power to stop the process, remedy it or seek remedy from experts to rectify the situation- Jidoka
• Small improvements add up: Often improvements made via TQM are small Vs 70% or higher improvements made via Six Sigma; however inappropriate, the small gains via TQM can add up exponentially.​

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CAPA, otherwise known as Corrective Actions Preventive Actions, is a vital key to a management system of high quality.  Correction actions are required in order to figure out the reason for problems whilst preventive actions are actions that are required in order to prevent the problems from reoccurring and aims to figure out the problems before they occur at all. There are paper and electronic versions of CAPA processes. 
  
The reason that CAPA is an important tool to incorporate into an organization is because it demands high quality management. In order to deal with the processes involved in CAPA the organization needs to be accurate and flexible. Organizations that typically implement CAPA include automotive, sciences, manufacturing and aerospace operations. It is typically linked with other improvement processes such as Lean and Six Sigma methodology.  
  
Corrective action processes are made up of several stages. The first is to identify and document the reason for the problems occurrence. After this, the whole systems processes need to be viewed and analyzed in order to confirm that similar problems will not occur. The effect of the problem has to be analyzed by finding out when the problem was realized and the impacts it had on the product or service itself. 
 
Sometimes appropriate action is required in order to handle the situation, which can involve telling the customer, recalling products or discarding products completely. The follow up is an important last stage because it allows the organization to assess whether the problem was handled effectively and if the possibility of it reoccurring has been eliminated. 
 
Preventive action processes involve taking  the necessary actions in order to guarantee that an error will not occur. It is often necessary to have an analysis performed of the system and its processes, which will help determine the requirements for changes involved so that the problem does not occur. 
 
This is typically performed by assigning a team to a project that focuses on improvement, which can include plans for progress, discussions about change, the resources that will be required and then evaluating their findings. Preventive actions require a set program of activities that allow for change to be implemented and monitored. It is best to space out the stages of the set over a longer period of time in order to note the progresses and to make evaluation more meaningful. It is important to communicate the ideas about what has taken place and what has been done to help team members communicate in a productive way.  


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Process benchmarking refers to a strategic tool used to compare one’s business against another’s in order to find out what practices are obsolete and which should be used instead. It clearly shows how organizations are using their methods, how other organizations are doing it, how they compare, what can be improved and how. There are several steps that make up a successful process benchmarking activity.
 
The first step in process benchmarking is to analyze and pinpoint the practices that are to be benchmarked. This can be done by finding out which practices have the largest impact on an organization, whether it is shareholders, customers, budget, departments and so on. It is not necessary to undergo process benchmarking with the entire organization. Ideally, the company should be able to choose specific areas within the organization, which needs to be improved or changed. This stage can also be considered as the identification stage.

After the first stage of identification is complete, begins the next stage called as Planning stage. It is much easier to come with a detailed outline that describes important aspects of the changes and how it will affect the processes. The next step is to find out the various processes that other organizations use. This is vital in order to make clear and valuable comparisons. Methods for finding out this information include research, conversations and other ways of collecting data. Use this information to note the key differences between your own and competitor organizations. 
  
The third stage involves comparing one’s organization’s processes against the ones that have been researched. This will require detailed information on research that was gathered, comparisons in written and diagram form and other essential pieces of data. It will be easier to find out how performances compare when viewing the information this way. 
 
The last stage out of the vital stages of process benchmarking is to make the necessary changes to the processes. There is no point in performing the previous stages if the changes are not going to be implemented, regardless of how drastic the change appears to be. It is necessary to come up with a plan of action in order to find out exactly how the changes will be implemented. In order to increase the likelihood of success, it is vital for the employees to have an understanding of the reasons for change and that, the management must make sure that the employees are provided with the resources that are required to make the improvement. 
 
After these stages the only main concern is to continue monitoring progress. Like many changes, the greatest benefits come from routine monitoring to ensure that all is operating as it should be. 


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Manufacturing process qualification is necessary to guarantee that a particular process is working in a consistent manner in order to create a product according to its requirements and complying to its specifications. It is a vital stage in ensuring the processes, such as designing and manufacturing, are functioning correctly. When the processes are guaranteed this helps to lower cost, tools and time. 
 
The essential reasons for performing manufacturing process qualification are to lower costs related to manufacturing and to adhere to requirements. When products that do not meet the requirements are ridden of before production, it helps to significantly lower operation cost and time. It is often necessary to meet requirements in order to qualify for a number of regulations, such as those implemented by the FDA or product specifications promised to consumers.
 
The best manufacturing process qualifications are achievable by having a well-rounded understanding of the various processes involved in manufacturing and the requirements of the product or service. A good tool to help one understand how to do so is to use process mapping. It is easier to understand all the various elements of a process by using this tool and encourages new ideas such as testing and further innovation studies. 

As mentioned before, it is vital for manufacturing process qualifications to clearly understand the requirements that are related to the product. It is common for different industries to have different sets of standards and it is essential to follow these standards specifically.

There are four key features to developing a document that specifies the standards of manufacturing process qualifications, which include: design, installation, operational and performance qualifications. Each of these features needs to have a pre-consented procedure as well as data to back up the results. 

There are many other reasons that manufacturing process qualification is an important procedure. It is not practical to begin the use of equipment or tools without knowing whether or not they can produce the required product. Often times, tools and equipment are expensive, high-tech and may even require a specific person to operate/control it; all these factors involve various costs that could otherwise be put to better use. 

In order for an organization to reach success, it is necessary to spend time and money wisely. Therefore, understanding whether or not resources are effective and efficient, is vital. There are too many costs associated with unhappy customers, defected products, recalls and so on, all clubbed under a broad heading called ‘Cost of poor quality”.
 
Manufacturing process qualification is required to ensure product quality, lower overall costs, adhere to regulations, improve productivity & consumer satisfaction all resulting in accelerated business development and growth.


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Business process qualifications can give you a new career path in which it is your job to assess and evaluate the various procedures and processes used in an organization. It is also part of the job to create data models, arrange various activities, provide helpful solutions and come up with unique and interesting strategies for organizations. It is necessary for individuals interested in earning a business process qualification to have a deep interest and ability to communicate and analyze issues of business. It also helps to be extremely organized and be skilled at negotiating. 
 
There are several levels involved in understanding the different aspects of business analysis, which include business process design, business process analyze, strategic planning and technical planning. In the past, business process qualifications were not as popular as they are now and those that were somewhat involved in the operations of an organization or IT often filled the roles. Nowadays, business process analysts are involved in many vital aspects of developing a successful business, with responsibilities ranging from project planning to implantation to offering advice to management. 
  
There is no standard way to obtain a business process qualification, though a common starting point is having a bachelor’s degree in a technical field such as engineering or computer science. It is also common for degrees in business to end up obtaining the qualification in order to fulfill roles such as consultants and managers. While those with a business process qualification often end up working in IT, they are also valuable to other industries such as finance and marketing. 
 
Various institutes offer certifications in order to obtain a business process qualification. It is not necessary to be certified as many of those with a bachelor’s degree in a related field as able to handle the job requirements, however obtaining the qualification can make it much easier to get your foot in the door. It is common for those with the qualification to work with insurance, software, banking, telecoms and finance. Choosing an industry does not mean you are stuck to it since it is common to alter industries as one sees fit. The job requirements also vary from company to company and can require a variety of different skills. 
  
In the workplace, those with a business process qualification are highly valued for their ability to develop projects and to get projects initiated. They are often a valuable spokesperson that works with all departments of the organization and finds a way to make it work. 
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Flow charts are diagrams that are used to show various stages of a process that makes it easy for those viewing the chart to understand and view the entire process. It is a beneficial tool for helping with communication regarding various processes and the roles they play. It is also useful for providing concise documentation regarding the stages of a specific job or project. 

Many find that flow charts are a great tool for organizing their own thoughts since it helps one to map out the entire process step by step. It helps one digest and examine their own thoughts on various stages of the process and makes it much easier to notice where improvements or adjustments can be made. Flow charts used in organizations allow all those with access to the chart to understand the process and use it as a point of reference as well. 
 
Flow charts are commonly used to allow a  process to be defined and analyzed. It provides a clear picture of the entire  process and makes it easier to communicate, discuss and analysis particular ideas. Sometimes looking at the entire picture or final goal can be very daunting and block creativity since we are overwhelmed by various ideas. When flow charts are created, it allows one to focus on the stages one at a time and focus attention where and when it is required. 
  
There are certain symbols used in flow charts to represent different stages. These symbols are accompanied by a brief description regarding the stage. Arrows are used as representation to direct the train of movement in a chart. The various symbols used in flow charts represent different things. While there are many symbols out there, the most commonly used ones are: oval, rectangular, diamond and circle. 
 
The oval symbol stands for the beginning or final stage of the process. A regular symbol shows a typical process stage. A diamond symbol indicates where the ideas branch within a chart. An example of the diamond stage is if two or more options are available in the process. The circular symbol would be used to outline the option connected to the diamond stage that does not have further processes if it is chosen. 
 
Many organizations and individuals choose to use flow charts in order to analyze the flow of information. It is a great tool when it comes to planning and brain-storming ideas as well as for developing strategies and solutions. 



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Block diagrams are diagrams that clearly show the vital steps within a system. These steps are represented by titles in blocks, such as squares or rectangles and are connected to relating ideas via lines. It is a type of flow chart that is more specialized and focused. They show the key stages and what is involved in summary form. 
 
These diagrams are a helpful tool when it comes to the improvement of processes that are already in existence, as well as the creation of entirely new processes. The reason that block diagrams are favored is because they provide an easy-to-view map of an idea, which is easy to read and quick to decipher. 
 
It is considered a high-level tool because it is hard for those who are not involved in the process to understand or analyze the cues that are given, which are very minimal and far from detailed. It is necessary for all members of the team to have an understanding of the entire process before hand if a block diagram is to be used. 
 
There are various stages involved in creating a successful block diagram. The first is to define the process, with a clear start and end point that can later be examined. It is then necessary to label the vital participants in the process, which can be teams or individuals. This can also extend to suppliers, customers and other individuals involved outside of the work place, if they are a key part in the operation of the process.

The diagram is then outlined by making a box that mentions all the actions of the process. The box is subdivided into columns that are assigned to each of the key participants. It is essential to include the title of the project or process and the date for reference. The individual columns in the block diagram are then labeled using participants names. Each key stage in the process should have a very brief and related description in the boxes. The boxes are joined by using arrows that point in the direction of the flow of the stages. 
 
It is best to make sure the entire group has viewed the block diagram before making and distributing copies in order to confirm that the information listed is an accurate representation of the particular process. Block diagrams are typically used to show the entire picture from start to finish, without spending time on detailed descriptions. 



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