Dateline: June 13, 2001
Ford has been a leader in Total Quality Management and their 'Q1' (Quality is Job #1) slogan is ubiquitous, but their recent issues of rollovers, recalls and production delays have prompted them to revitalize their quality program -- this time with Six Sigma.
Their past TQM quality program has roots back in the 1980s. Japanese imports threatened American manufacturers. Edward Deming (see the Deming Quality Award) was brought in to lead a quality revolution. This revolution would end up turning Ford Motor Company around to become the most profitable American motor company.
Times change and slogans grow old. Today Ford is again revitalizing their quality program, this time with Six Sigma. Their interest lies in creating a consistent approach to solving problems that can be shared across lines. Another benefit of Six Sigma, as compared to TQM, is the approach and rigor of quantifying bottom-line financial results of improvement projects and the initiative as a whole -- which lies in contrast to what Deming taught.
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Source: New York Times
