The Total Quality Management (TQM) scene is exciting. It is the most all-encompassing movement developed so far, towards effective and efficient control of the processes we have used to sustain and develop ourselves. In the last 20 years or so, the concept of TQM has flowed out of Japan right around the world.
The flow has not been smooth and seamless, not by a long chalk. Corporations and organizations in manufacturing and service have recognized and built from the work done (originally in Japan) since the second world war. This fact however, lies to the credit of individuals in both quality support organizations and in the companies that adopt their methodologies.
The well known quality awards, such as the Japan’s Deming Prize, instituted in 1951 (named for W Edwards Deming, the American expert who triggered the quality revolution), and the more recent US Malcolm Baldrige Award, which was formalized in 1986, are mainly publicized for and by the corporations that win them. An undeniable fact in our country is however, that no Indian organization as yet qualifies for such an objective recognition of excellence. Perhaps some do, for certain divisional activities, but not on an overall basis. In this connection, it may be pertinent to point out that the Deming and Baldrige awards are given to divisions as well. In the case of the Deming prize, in fact, divisional awards form a category by themselves.
The Deming has in all five categories. One of these is the individual award, presented to the person whose contribution in theoretical research work and in the practical application of statistical methods is judged outstanding. Those who promote the increased use of statistic methods in industry are also eligible. An example of the kind of person who receives the Deming Prize is Dr Genichi Taguchi, who has won the award no less than four times.
In the US, the Edwards Medal is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the application of modern quality control methods, especially through the organization and administration of such work. A Blanton Godfrey, the chairman and CEO of the Juran Institute, was presented the medal this year in recognition of his ‘extensive contributions to quality management as represented by his able leadership in industry and his promotion of quality worldwide as CEO of a major quality organization’. The National Award of Technology is also presented annually, to individuals and companies for their contributions to improving the well being of the US, either through the development or commercialization of technology or for their contributions to the establishment of a technically trained workforce. Dr J M Juran, chairman emeritus of the Juran Institute received this award in June this year ‘for his lifetime work of providing the key principles and methods by which enterprises manage the quality of their products and processes, enhancing their ability to compete in the global marketplace.
India has no national quality awards as yet, and as pointed out above, it would be difficult to justify any corporation receiving an overall award at this time. However, there have been a large number of individuals who have been trying to draw the attention of decision makers in companies and in the government to the need to mobilize and focus attention on striving for quality in the workplace. As a service organization affiliated to one of the world’s most respected quality proselytizers, the Juran Institute, we have ourselves tried to give some recognition within our larger family - the people working for the companies that are implementing Juran methodology - to special achievers. This is why we initiated the Qimpro Awards, the gold and silver standards presented to upper level and middle level executives annually. The assessment of individuals has been rigorous, with winners of the previous year’s awards deeply involved in the evaluation of the current contenders.
However, it is necessary to draw the attention of the public to the fact that there are people who have contributed tremendously to the cause of Indian quality, establishing a recognition internationally for India as a serious and worthy participant in the technology marketplace. This year we are broadening the scope of the Qimpro Awards, establishing a Platinum Standard for individuals (who may or may not be connected in any way with Juran methodology). We have selected three broad criteria which underline our commitment to the effect of focusing on quality. These are:
- Contribution towards exports
- Contribution to education
- Contribution to research and development.
The first criterion is not as simple as it may appear. The government already rewards big exporters in terms of additional import licenses and so on. The question of what is competing in the international marketplace, and who is buying it, is more relevant, to our minds.
The second category is also crucial. There are industrialists and entrepreneurs who do not stop at building quality within their organizations through training, but move out to make the benefits of quality consciousness available to other, even while the process is still taking place within their own companies.
The third contribution is again tended to be a recognition of the direction taken in technology absorption and innovation. There is an urgent need to absorb and build out of technologies purchased or transferred from others, and there is even more a need to develop capabilities in-house wherever opportunities present themselves, and when they don’t, to go out and look for some.
The first awardee of the Qimpro Platinum Standard, officially presented on September 14th, 1992 is Mr D L Shah, the chairman and managing director of Perfect Machine Tools Company Limited and several of its associated companies. Shah has been a tireless crusader for quality in India, and for the promotion of an indigenous design capability. For the past seven years, he has been exporting machine tools to Japan, considerably more difficult than coals to Newcastle. He established the PMT Trust in Bangalore in 1977, under the auspices of the Central Machine Tool Institute, dedicated to the research and development of machine tool technology. The Trust awards recognition of design engineering capability with prizes in excess of Rs 1 lakh, presented at the IMTEX exhibition. He established the PMT Centre for Quality Management at Bombay in 1984, following this up with the National Centre for Quality Management in 1986, which is devoted to spreading quality consciousness through industry.
We salute D L Shah: Platinum Standard 1992.
CREDITS: Suresh Lulla, Founder & Mentor, Qimpro Consultants Pvt. Ltd.