What is the objective of total quality management (TQM)?

The objective of total quality management (TQM) is centered around achieving long-term success through customer satisfaction. TQM promotes a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of organizational processes, products, and services, emphasizing continuous improvement and the involvement of all members of the organization. By focusing on customer satisfaction, TQM seeks to meet or exceed customer expectations, which ultimately leads to repeat business, a strong reputation, and sustainable success.

Long-term success involves not just meeting current demands but also adapting to changing customer needs and evolving market conditions. This focus on quality and customer satisfaction creates a solid foundation for organizational growth, fostering loyalty and deeper relationships with customers.

In contrast, short-term performance improvement might sacrifice quality for quick results, which can undermine long-term growth. Reducing production costs at any expense could lead to poor quality and dissatisfied customers, while maximizing profit margins without consideration for customer satisfaction would jeopardize the organization's reputation and long-term viability. Thus, the overarching goal of TQM is best captured by its commitment to customer satisfaction as a driver for sustainable success.