What is the primary goal of Total Quality Management (TQM)?
a) To reduce production costs
b) To achieve long-term success by improving quality and meeting customer expectations
c) To increase inventory levels
d) To manage supplier relationships Answer: b) To achieve long-term success by improving quality and meeting customer expectations
Which of the following is a core principle of TQM?
a) Cost reduction
b) Customer focus
c) Increased inventory
d) Short-term gains Answer: b) Customer focus
Who is typically responsible for implementing TQM in an organization?
a) Only the Quality Assurance department
b) Senior management and leadership
c) External consultants
d) The Marketing department Answer: b) Senior management and leadership
What does the term “Continuous Improvement” mean in TQM?
a) Making improvements only when major issues arise
b) Regularly improving processes and products through small, incremental changes
c) Increasing production speed
d) Reducing the number of employees Answer: b) Regularly improving processes and products through small, incremental changes
Which quality management tool is commonly used in TQM to identify the most significant factors affecting quality?
a) Fishbone Diagram
b) Histogram
c) Control Chart
d) Scatter Plot Answer: a) Fishbone Diagram
In TQM, what is the role of “Employee Involvement”?
a) Ensuring employees are responsible only for their tasks
b) Encouraging all employees to contribute to quality improvement efforts
c) Restricting employees’ involvement in decision-making processes
d) Limiting employee feedback Answer: b) Encouraging all employees to contribute to quality improvement efforts
What does “Customer Satisfaction” refer to in TQM?
a) The process of designing new products
b) The degree to which products and services meet or exceed customer expectations
c) The amount of inventory held
d) The efficiency of production processes Answer: b) The degree to which products and services meet or exceed customer expectations
Which of the following is NOT a common element of TQM?
a) Quality planning
b) Quality control
c) Quality assurance
d) Quality avoidance Answer: d) Quality avoidance
What is the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) cycle used for in TQM?
a) To plan marketing strategies
b) To manage employee schedules
c) To implement continuous improvement processes
d) To design new products Answer: c) To implement continuous improvement processes
Which of the following roles is emphasized in TQM to drive quality improvement throughout the organization?
a) Quality Control Manager
b) Team Leaders
c) Top Management
d) External Auditors Answer: c) Top Management
What does “Benchmarking” involve in the context of TQM?
a) Comparing organizational performance against industry best practices
b) Designing new quality standards
c) Increasing production capacity
d) Reducing employee turnover Answer: a) Comparing organizational performance against industry best practices
Which TQM principle focuses on preventing defects rather than detecting them?
a) Quality Control
b) Quality Assurance
c) Total Quality Management
d) Statistical Process Control Answer: b) Quality Assurance
What is the purpose of “Quality Circles” in TQM?
a) To form groups of employees who meet regularly to discuss and solve quality issues
b) To create visual aids for production processes
c) To design new marketing campaigns
d) To manage inventory levels Answer: a) To form groups of employees who meet regularly to discuss and solve quality issues
In TQM, what does “Process Management” focus on?
a) Managing individual employee performance
b) Improving and controlling processes to enhance quality and efficiency
c) Increasing the number of suppliers
d) Reducing marketing expenses Answer: b) Improving and controlling processes to enhance quality and efficiency
Which of the following best describes “Zero Defects” in TQM?
a) The goal of having no defects in products or services
b) The aim to minimize production costs
c) The practice of reducing inventory levels
d) The strategy for increasing market share Answer: a) The goal of having no defects in products or services
How does TQM address “Supplier Quality”?
a) By focusing solely on internal processes
b) By working closely with suppliers to ensure they meet quality standards
c) By increasing inventory levels to avoid quality issues
d) By reducing supplier lead times Answer: b) By working closely with suppliers to ensure they meet quality standards
What is the purpose of “Root Cause Analysis” in TQM?
a) To identify and address the underlying causes of quality problems
b) To manage marketing strategies
c) To increase production speed
d) To reduce employee turnover Answer: a) To identify and address the underlying causes of quality problems
Which TQM approach involves collecting data to monitor and control processes?
a) Statistical Process Control (SPC)
b) Benchmarking
c) Quality Assurance
d) Kaizen Answer: a) Statistical Process Control (SPC)
What is the role of “Customer Feedback” in TQM?
a) To adjust production schedules
b) To improve product and service quality based on customer input
c) To manage supplier contracts
d) To forecast future sales Answer: b) To improve product and service quality based on customer input
In TQM, which of the following is a key benefit of implementing a quality management system?
a) Increased product defects
b) Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty
c) Higher inventory costs
d) Reduced employee engagement Answer: b) Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty