Quality Improvement Strategy & Apple’s Continuous Improvement via TQM

Quality Improvement Strategy and Apple’s Continuous Improvement through TQM
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Executive Summary
All literature on total quality management (TQM) emphasize that its successful implementation has a positive outcome on employee productivity, customer satisfaction, and improved partner relationship management. Quality-driven companies such as Apple Inc. have managed premium success in the market due to successful implementation of quality management systems that are streamlined with the company’s goals and initiatives. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the extent of TQM at Apple Inc. using a survey with ten questions on TQM. The choice of Apple Inc.as a company for analysis was based on its success in the market as well as its unique position in the market. This study found that TQM plays a moderating role in managing complex organizations, especially in the partner relationship management. Successful implementation of TQM requires proper training on knowledge management, quality management, as well as stakeholder relationship for sustainability. Introduction
Organizations are complex institutions where people from diverse backgrounds come together to pursue the common goal of the firm. The complexity of achieving the common goal increases when firms merge or start competing at the global level. Mergers and acquisitions complicate the management process as they bring firms with different firms with different corporate cultures together. Acquilani, Silvestri, and Ruggieri (2016) explain that successful firms focus on improving through continuous improvement, sensitivity on price, and knowledge management for employees and other stakeholders in the firm. Luburic (2014) further define TQM as a stable path that a firm follows in its transitional environment to provide quality products and services to its customers by concentrating on continuous improvement as a strategy for effective competition. Continuous improvement is an ongoing process that focuses on improving relationship with partners and stakeholders in the supply chain, actual product quality, and relationship with the employees within the firm. This paper carried out a research survey to determine how TQM has enhanced productivity and success of Apple Inc. at the global level.
Problem Statement
Competition at the global level has created a need for large companies to acquire smaller companies as well as the need for merging to reduce competition in the market. The main problem with competition is that companies compete for common clients, creating pressure on customer satisfaction and productivity. Even after merging, some companies still struggle to control the market share due to changing and shifting tastes and preferences of clients. Successful firms like Apple Inc. have incorporated total quality management as an operation strategy, but they are still facing challenges in the market due to concentration on premium products. Poor implementation of TQM is not only likely to harm clients, but also the firm.
Review of Literature
A number of researches have been conducted to determine the efficiency of TQM in different environments. The general consensus among scholars is that TQM can serve both ...