Which aspect of quality management emphasizes continuous improvement?

Total Quality Management (TQM) is the correct answer because it embodies the philosophy of continuous improvement across all aspects of an organization. TQM focuses on long-term success through customer satisfaction and involves all members of an organization in improving processes, products, services, and culture. It fosters an environment where ongoing enhancement of processes and outcomes is fundamental, encouraging a culture of innovation and proactive problem-solving.

TQM integrates various quality management practices, including employee training, feedback mechanisms, and iterative process assessments, which ensures that improvements are not only implemented but sustained over time. This holistic approach drives the organization towards excellence by consistently seeking ways to improve functionalities and reduce waste.

The other options do have elements related to quality, but they do not specifically emphasize the continuous improvement aspect in the comprehensive way TQM does. Quality Control focuses more on meeting specific standards and identifying quality issues after the fact rather than encouraging a proactive improvement culture. Quality Assurance is concerned with establishing processes that ensure quality, but it does not inherently emphasize ongoing enhancements in the same manner as TQM. Quality Planning involves setting priorities and establishing objectives for quality but lacks the continuous improvement framework that is central to TQM.