QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROCESS
A good quality policy doesn't mean much without a good system to implement it. Our system is called Quality Through Continual Improvement and is based largely on the work of Philip Crosby (14 Steps) and Dr. W. Edwards Deming (14 points) applied and adapted to Contech's specialized work. This iterative process consists of 12 basic steps carried out and repeated continually over 2-4 year continual improvement cycles. We are currently in our third pass through this process.
Here are the steps:
Step 1 - Management Commitment - Making it clear where management stands on Continual Improvement.
Step 2 - Quality Improvement Team - Directing the Continual Improvement process.
Step 3 - Employee Education - Providing the education necessary for Continual Improvement to work.
Step 4 - Awareness - Providing the personal awareness necessary for Continual Improvement to work.
Step 5 - Opportunities For Improvement - Providing a system for individual employees to participate regularly in Continual Improvement.
Step 6 - Better Way Meetings - Providing a system for work groups to participate regularly in Continual Improvement.
Step 7 - Corrective Action Teams - Providing a system to regularly use specialized teams to solve Contech's problems.
Step 8 - Goal Setting - Setting goals for Continual Improvement.
Step 9 - Measurement and Evaluation - Measuring and evaluating our performance with regard to the goals we have set.
Step 10 - Recognition - Providing a system to regularly recognize participation and accomplishment in Continual Improvement.
Step 11 - Celebration - Publicly recognizing and celebrating the completion of a Continual Improvement cycle.
Step 12 - Renewal - Providing a system to improve how we "do it all over again" in the next Continual Improvement cycle.
Copyright 2005 Contech Control Services, Inc.