Total Quality is a description of the culture, attitude and organization that PowerRail will strive to provide customers with products and services that satisfy their needs. It is a strategy for continuously improving performance at every level, and in all areas of responsibility. The culture requires quality in all aspects of the company’s operations, with processes being done right the first time and defects and waste eradicated from operations. TQM must be practiced in all activities, by all personnel, in manufacturing, marketing, engineering, R&D, sales, purchasing, human resources, accounts payable, receiving, picking, packing, and shipping.

The simple objective of PowerRail’s TQM is “Do the right things, right the first time, every time.”

Here are the elements that PowerRail will implement, support, and improve upon continuously.

PowerRail is customer-focused

The customer ultimately determines the level of quality. No matter what this organization does to foster quality improvement—training employees, integrating quality into the design process, upgrading computers or software, or buying new measuring tools—the customer determines whether the efforts were worthwhile.

PowerRail believes in total employee involvement

All employees will participate in working toward common goals. PowerRail has implement this element by ensuring fear is driven from the workplace, by ensuring empowerment has occurred, and management has provided the proper environment. PowerRail Management will support and assist with self-managed work teams.

PowerRail is process-centered

 A fundamental part of TQM is a focus on process thinking. A process is a series of steps that take inputs from suppliers (internal or external) and transforms them into outputs that are delivered to customers (again, either internal or external). The steps required to carry out the process are defined, and performance measures are continuously monitored on the PowerRail database in order to detect unexpected variation.

PowerRail uses an integrated system

 Although PowerRail consists of many different functional specialties, organized into vertically structured departments, it is the horizontal processes interconnecting these functions that are the focus of our TQM. Each PowerRail location has an organizational chart that specifies job title which is related to responsibilities.

PowerRail uses strategic and systematic approach

A critical part of the management of quality is the strategic and systematic approach to achieving an organization’s vision, mission, and goals. This process, called strategic planning or strategic management, includes the formulation of a strategic plan that integrates quality as a core component. Prior proper planning prevents poor performance is one of the mottos of the PowerRail Quality Department. Quality, price, service, delivery is the PowerRail corporate mission statement and is the base for all strategic and systematic approaches.

PowerRail strives for continual improvement

 A major thrust of PowerRail’s TQM is continual process improvement. Continual improvement drives us to be both analytical and creative in finding ways to become more competitive and more effective at meeting company and customer expectations.

PowerRail makes fact-based decision

 In order to know how well PowerRail is performing, data on performance measures are necessary. TQM requires that an organization continually collect and analyze data in order to improve decision making accuracy, achieve consensus, and allow prediction based on past history. This is achieved using PowerRail’s custom database.

PowerRail key to performance: Communication

 During times of organizational change, as well as part of day-to-day operation, effective communications plays a large part in maintaining morale and in motivating employees at all levels. Communications involve strategies, method, responsibilities, and timeliness.