Currently, UK healthcare is encountering an unprecedented quality crisis, especially considering the overwhelming challenge of improving patient care in the face of growing demands and limited resources. Although past efforts to adopt Total Quality Management (TQM) initiatives have failed to produce desired results, this thesis investigates the limitations of TQM applicability and explores the development of an innovative Quality Improvement model germane to a healthcare context. By integrating TQM with concepts from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Complexity Theory (CT) and Knowledge Management (KM) a novel TQM conceptual framework, called EALIM—Ethical, Adaptive, Learning and Improvement Model—was devised. Using an Action Research (AR) study, EALIM was implemented within a private healthcare firm by working collaboratively with organisational members over a period of eighteen months. The study included gathering qualitative data in three AR cycles: 1) pre-implementation, 2) implementation and 3) post-implementation. The first cycle involved gathering data to form a baseline assessment of the organisation, which was used to provide feedback to top management on areas for improvement. In the second cycle, an action plan was developed with top managers and EALIM’s implementation was examined. In the third cycle, further data were gathered and findings were evaluated against the baseline assessment from the first cycle to identify the overall impact of EALIM on the organisation. Findings indicated that EALIM’s adoption generated a moral perception of the organisation, a learning culture, increased organisational commitment and an improvement in patient self-advocacy and independence. Factors that contributed to these outcomes were top management commitment, employee empowerment, the use of trans-disciplinary groups and practice-based training. However, other findings indicated that poor leadership and staff nurses’ use of managerial control created variability in service quality. These findings suggest that while EALIM can lead to organisational improvement, the commitment of all internal stakeholders is required to achieve sustainable quality patient care.

With Chiptech’s current growth rate and size it has become necessary to develop a Quality Management System to enable repeatability, meet customer demands, and protect Chiptech from staff turnover. ISO 9001 was identified as a base for development, with the imperative that the system identified and developed must deliver value for Chiptech. Several frameworks were investigated, along with journal articles and discussions with industry members in order to determine the aspects that would deliver value, and determine the key success factors. Two factors were identified as critical: employee involvement, and the utilisation of metrics – both of which were leveraged for the project results and recommendations. The systems developed have already proved they offer benefits, however, in order to maintain performance Chiptech must a) keep evaluating the measured results, b) ensure that quality forms an integral part of the organisational culture and, c) continue the systematic approach of continual improvement.

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The philosophy of Total Quality Management (TQM) is relatively little known in Australia, and does not feature at policy level in the Australian Army. It has, however, been adopted by the US Department of Defense (US DoD) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and is being investigated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). TQM is analyzed as a theory and as an organizational concept. This is supported by extensive analysis and case studies from US and Australian organizations. The public and private sector organizations examined provide indications of the worth of TQM, guidance for planning and implementation, and the facility to learn from the experiences of others. TQM cannot be undertaken without detailed, organizationally specific preparation and requires pro-active support from the highest level of the organization. This paper examines the TQM philosophy and the Australian Army and proposes a model for the development of TQM as an integral part of the organizational function of the Army. The emphasis is on general management, the level that has the responsibility for structuring and managing the Army in support of all Army functions. Research conducted by elements of the US DoD is analyzed to indicate applicability to the future requirements of the Australian Army. The paper argues that general management in the Australian Army has been affected by organizational changes over time. A management philosophy is now needed that will support, into the 21st Century, the values and roles required by the Army. TQM provides such a basis, and the proposed TQM Development Model provides in turn a sound basis for further examination of TQM by the Army.

<p>Kvalitet är något som blir allt viktigare för både företag och dess kunder. Därför bör företag ständigt utveckla och förbättra sitt kvalitetsarbete. Syftet med detta examensarbete är just att undersöka hur kvalitetsarbetet på ett tjänsteföretag fungerar samt hur detta arbete kan förbättras och utvecklas.</p><p>Studien genomfördes på Gävle Energi som är ett medelstort energibolag i Gävle regionen med en omsättning på 1 miljard SEK. Undersökningen baseras på intervjuer med fyra anställda på Gävle Energi och på en enkätundersökning som skickades ut till alla anställda på företaget.</p><p>Gävle Energi har väldigt höga ambitioner med sitt kvalitetsarbete och överlag fungerar det bra. Det finns också en del förbättringspotential främst inom kommunikation. Bristen på kommunikation leder till att viktig information inte når alla på företaget. Detta kan bidra till att de anställda inte känner sig engagerade eller delaktiga i kvalitetsarbetet. För att öka delaktigheten och förändra synen på kvalitetsarbetet måste det ske en förändring i företagskulturen. Med en företagskultur som sätter kunden i centrum och prioriterar kvalitetsarbetet kan man få en högre delaktighet och ett större engagemang från alla på företaget.</p> / <p>Quality is something that will become more important both for companies and for its customers. It is therefore very important for companies to continuously develop and improve their quality. The purpose of this study is to analyze how the continuous improvement processes in a service company are operated and how these processes can be improved and developed further. The study was performed at Gävle Energi which is a medium sized energy company with a turnover of 1 billion SEK. The study is based on interviews with four Gävle Energi employees and a companywide survey.</p><p> </p><p>Gävle Energi is very ambitious with their quality improvement processes. And generally these processes work well. But there is also some room for improvements, primarily with the communication inside the organization. The lack of proper communication makes it hard for critical information to reach everyone in the company and is a contributing factor to why employees feel uninvolved and unmotivated in the company’s work with continuous improvements. By changing the company culture to a culture that stresses the importance of quality and of everyone’s involvement in the improvement process, the company will be able to obtain higher motivation and participation from the employees.</p>

<p>Examensarbete 20p Företagsekonomi Tekonomprogrammet vid Örebro Universitet ESI VT 2007</p><p>Titel: -Order, var god dröj! - En studie i ledtidsanalys av ett TQM-företag utifrån ett SCM perspektiv.</p><p>Författare: Pär Alfredson, Mikael Eriksson, Jonas Hellman</p><p>Handledare: Leif Sanner</p><p>Examinator: Detlef Quast</p><p>Bakgrund Marknader skapar ett behov av kortare ledtider och mer effektiva leveranser när konkurrensen ökar. Utifrån denna verklighet har PartnerTech fått incitament från deras största kund att de vill förkorta den totala ledtiden på leveranser. När materialet som används i produktionen är metall som det i det här fallet så försvåras arbetet med ledtidsförkortning då efterfrågan idag är större än utbudet på den marknaden.</p><p>Syfte Att i en fallstudie kartlägga och analysera företagets problematik med långa ledtider för produkt AT4CS.</p><p>Metod Studien har en deduktiv forskningsansats där vi utifrån teorin undersöker vårt fallföretag. Vi har använt oss av både kvalitativ och kvantitativ data som egenhändigt samlats in men också sekundärdata. Vi har avgränsat oss till PartnerTech i Karlskoga och en av deras produkter.</p><p>Teori I studien har vi använt oss av tre olika teorier, Total Quality Management, Supply Chain Management och Supply Chain Risk Management.</p><p>Slutsats Den aktivitet som tveklöst står för den största andelen av den totala ledtiden är materialanskaffning. PartnerTech har en verksamhet som genomsyras av kvalitet och är näst intill på ett stringent sätt utformad efter TPS. Det som framkommit under studiens gång kring faktorer som spelar stor betydelse kring ledtidsproblematiken är de brister som finns i den externa kommunikationen till kund och leverantörer. Genom att applicera ett Supply Chain Management till PartnerTechs verksamhet skapas goda förutsättningar för en konkurrenskraftig försörjningskedja genom ett säkerställande av informationsflödet. Till detta bör ett fördjupat samarbetsprojekt byggas upp mellan PartnerTech, kund och leverantörer, PartnerRelations. Avslutningsvis ser vi inga andra lösningar för att angripa den långa materialanskaffningstiden än att genom PartnerRelations driva konsignationslager eller mellanlager. Genom dessa förslag ser vi ett kausalt samband där effekten blir en ledtidsreducering.</p><p>Förslag till fortsatt forskning</p><p>Kostnadsfördelning vid konsignationslager</p><p>Införandet av ett informationssystem mellan partners</p><p>Riskminimering av produktionsmaskiner</p> / <p>Master Thesis 20p Business Administration Tekonomprogrammet, Örebro University ESI Spring 2007</p><p>Title: - Order, please hold! – A lead-time study of an TQM enterprise through an SCM perspective.</p><p>Authors: Pär Alfredson, Mikael Eriksson, Jonas Hellman</p><p>Tutor: Leif Sanner</p><p>Examiner: Detlef Quast</p><p>Background When the competition increases the market creates a requirement for faster and more effective deliveries. According to the point above PartnerTech has been given an incentive from their largest customer to shorten their deliveries. As in this case where the material used in the production is metal the efforts in reducing lead-times becomes more complicated when the demand is bigger than the supply at the market.</p><p>Purpose In a case study map and analyse the company’s complex problems with long lead-times for the product AT4CS.</p><p>Method The study has an deductive research approach where we on the basis of the theories examine our case company. We have used both qualitative and quantitative data that has been personally collected, and also secondary data. We have delimited this study to PartnerTech in Karlskoga and one of their products.</p><p>Theory In this study we have used three different theories, Total Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, and Supply Chain Risk Management.</p><p>Conclusions The most craving activity in the total lead-time is obtaining materials. PartnerTech is permeated with quality and its production first-rate according to the TPS philosophy. Factors that have come up along the way regarding the lead-time are the lack of external communication with the customer and the suppliers. By implicating a Supply Chain Management perspective to PartnerTech will create all the necessary requirements for a competitive supply chain and thereby secure the information flow. A relations project ought to be build up between PartnerTech, the customer and the suppliers, PartnerRelations. In conclusion we see no other solution to reduce lead-time than to create a consignment stock or stockpile through the PartnerRelations programme. These solutions create a causal connection and leads to a reduction in lead-time.</p><p>Proposals to further studies</p><p>Distribution of cost with a consignment stock</p><p>Implementation of a partner related informationsystem</p><p>Riskreduction in the production entity</p>

Examensarbete 20p Företagsekonomi Tekonomprogrammet vid Örebro Universitet ESI VT 2007 Titel: -Order, var god dröj! - En studie i ledtidsanalys av ett TQM-företag utifrån ett SCM perspektiv. Författare: Pär Alfredson, Mikael Eriksson, Jonas Hellman Handledare: Leif Sanner Examinator: Detlef Quast Bakgrund Marknader skapar ett behov av kortare ledtider och mer effektiva leveranser när konkurrensen ökar. Utifrån denna verklighet har PartnerTech fått incitament från deras största kund att de vill förkorta den totala ledtiden på leveranser. När materialet som används i produktionen är metall som det i det här fallet så försvåras arbetet med ledtidsförkortning då efterfrågan idag är större än utbudet på den marknaden. Syfte Att i en fallstudie kartlägga och analysera företagets problematik med långa ledtider för produkt AT4CS. Metod Studien har en deduktiv forskningsansats där vi utifrån teorin undersöker vårt fallföretag. Vi har använt oss av både kvalitativ och kvantitativ data som egenhändigt samlats in men också sekundärdata. Vi har avgränsat oss till PartnerTech i Karlskoga och en av deras produkter. Teori I studien har vi använt oss av tre olika teorier, Total Quality Management, Supply Chain Management och Supply Chain Risk Management. Slutsats Den aktivitet som tveklöst står för den största andelen av den totala ledtiden är materialanskaffning. PartnerTech har en verksamhet som genomsyras av kvalitet och är näst intill på ett stringent sätt utformad efter TPS. Det som framkommit under studiens gång kring faktorer som spelar stor betydelse kring ledtidsproblematiken är de brister som finns i den externa kommunikationen till kund och leverantörer. Genom att applicera ett Supply Chain Management till PartnerTechs verksamhet skapas goda förutsättningar för en konkurrenskraftig försörjningskedja genom ett säkerställande av informationsflödet. Till detta bör ett fördjupat samarbetsprojekt byggas upp mellan PartnerTech, kund och leverantörer, PartnerRelations. Avslutningsvis ser vi inga andra lösningar för att angripa den långa materialanskaffningstiden än att genom PartnerRelations driva konsignationslager eller mellanlager. Genom dessa förslag ser vi ett kausalt samband där effekten blir en ledtidsreducering. Förslag till fortsatt forskning Kostnadsfördelning vid konsignationslager Införandet av ett informationssystem mellan partners Riskminimering av produktionsmaskiner / Master Thesis 20p Business Administration Tekonomprogrammet, Örebro University ESI Spring 2007 Title: - Order, please hold! – A lead-time study of an TQM enterprise through an SCM perspective. Authors: Pär Alfredson, Mikael Eriksson, Jonas Hellman Tutor: Leif Sanner Examiner: Detlef Quast Background When the competition increases the market creates a requirement for faster and more effective deliveries. According to the point above PartnerTech has been given an incentive from their largest customer to shorten their deliveries. As in this case where the material used in the production is metal the efforts in reducing lead-times becomes more complicated when the demand is bigger than the supply at the market. Purpose In a case study map and analyse the company’s complex problems with long lead-times for the product AT4CS. Method The study has an deductive research approach where we on the basis of the theories examine our case company. We have used both qualitative and quantitative data that has been personally collected, and also secondary data. We have delimited this study to PartnerTech in Karlskoga and one of their products. Theory In this study we have used three different theories, Total Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, and Supply Chain Risk Management. Conclusions The most craving activity in the total lead-time is obtaining materials. PartnerTech is permeated with quality and its production first-rate according to the TPS philosophy. Factors that have come up along the way regarding the lead-time are the lack of external communication with the customer and the suppliers. By implicating a Supply Chain Management perspective to PartnerTech will create all the necessary requirements for a competitive supply chain and thereby secure the information flow. A relations project ought to be build up between PartnerTech, the customer and the suppliers, PartnerRelations. In conclusion we see no other solution to reduce lead-time than to create a consignment stock or stockpile through the PartnerRelations programme. These solutions create a causal connection and leads to a reduction in lead-time. Proposals to further studies Distribution of cost with a consignment stock Implementation of a partner related informationsystem Riskreduction in the production entity