Total Quality Management (TQM) has been a popular approach to management for quite some time now. It aims to achieve excellence in business through quality, increase customer satisfaction, and promote employee involvement through teamwork. With the emergence of the concept of Quality Culture (QC), which highlights the importance of continuous improvement and commitment to quality, TQM has become even more crucial in the organizational culture of industries that have implemented quality management (QM) elements.
However, with the advent of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), a new industrial phase that encourages the application of different technological tools, including cyber-physical systems (CPSs), to collect data in all sectors of the industry, TQM needs to adapt to changes by involving human resources and technologies in the industrial development process based on quality. Quality 4.0 is a branch of I4.0 that aims to boost quality through algorithms and intelligent solutions.
TQM has evolved over time with four phases identified in the literature. The most recent phase is characterized by TQM 4.0, which aims to integrate technologies, quality, and people in the industrial context. This study proposes an ecosystem model for TQM 4.0, linked to the technological innovations of I4.0, aiming to guide industries to this new phase and raise challenges that can be explored in future research concerning QM and human resources.
In a scientific paper discussing the emergence of TQM 4.0 and Quality 4.0, the authors highlight the need to align quality professionals' skills with the changes proposed by I4.0. These concepts seek to adopt the use of technologies in quality management systems (QMS) and support traditional quality methods by leveraging technology. The paper emphasizes the need for human support in executing control systems and algorithms and the importance of the interaction between humans and machines.
The authors also present a methodology for constructing a portfolio of articles with scientific relevance based on the application of the InOrdinatio equation. The final portfolio, ordered by scientific relevance, consists of 72 articles. The paper emphasizes the need for adaptations in the face of the dynamic I4.0 scenario and the importance of improving the integration of people in I4.0 and the need for decentralized and real-time management.
Another scientific paper describes a methodology for analyzing scientific articles related to the topics of Industry 4.0 and Total Quality Management (TQM), with a focus on the relationship between quality, people, and technologies. The study involved a bibliometric analysis to contextualize the articles, identify influential authors, recurring keywords, and main themes. The content analysis aimed to identify the connection between TQM and Industry 4.0, resulting in the development of the TQM 4.0 ecosystem and a future research agenda.
The analysis revealed that quality and management are the most recurring themes in the body of the articles, with TQM being a common management strategy. The TQM 4.0 ecosystem was built to demonstrate an ideal relationship between quality, people, and technologies. The study emphasizes the importance of decentralizing quality management, monitoring quality indicators through platforms, and integrating human perceptions with data analysis for better decision-making.
In another scientific paper, the authors discuss the concept of TQM 4.0, which is a technological update of quality management driven by Industry 4.0 (I4.0). The paper proposes the TQM 4.0 ecosystem, which involves three major spheres: technology, quality, and people, within an organization. The paper argues that the integration of these spheres is essential to meet the challenges posed by I4.0 and quality management.
The paper provides examples of desirable interactions between these spheres, such as the insertion of robots and automation of repetitive processes, which can spare the physical and mental health of employees and result in better rates of ergonomics, quality of work, motivation, and a greater acceptance of new technologies. The paper also explores the challenges and opportunities related to the theme and proposes an agenda for future research.
In conclusion, TQM 4.0 represents a way to classify organizations regarding their development in each sphere and prioritize which spheres need more attention. The paper suggests that TQM 4.0 can be applied in small manufacturing firms, and the importance of data management and big data in this context should be explored in future research. With the significant changes within the Industry caused by the technologies being added to this scenario, professionals focused on quality need to adapt to technological innovations and the new form of data analysis from I4.0. By integrating technology, quality, and people, TQM 4.0 can help organizations achieve excellence in business through quality in the current and future dynamic I4.0 scenario.
Authors
Souza, F. F. D., Corsi, A., Pagani, R. N., Balbinotti, G., & Kovaleski, J. L. (2022). Total quality management 4.0: adapting quality management to Industry 4.0. The TQM Journal, 34(4), 749-769. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-10-2020-0238