Quality Gurus and their Philosophies
Genichi Taguchi developed his statistical method for quality improvement in manufacturing of goods in 1950’s. Although many industries had used his methodology, it became widely accepted and spread three decades after its development in 1980. According to the concept, quality products increase sales. Taguchi provided strong motivation for producing quality goods to all industries in the world. The concept was developed in an experiment when different product and manufacturing quality control levels were analyzed (Bendell, 1989). Quality refers to attaining excellence in performance, reliability, safety and durability and leads to increased productivity, profit and capacity.
Difference between Taguchi’s Quality Loss Function Concept and Deming’s Statistical Process Control
Taguchi and Deming emphasized quality control that contributed to better sales and better performance. The main difference between the Taguchi method and Deming’s statistical process control is the view of how quality control affects products and what results can be achieved if product quality fails. Deming’s study focused on enhancing quality management while the Taguchi method is based on evolution and proactive approach towards product quality.
Deming’s concept is passionate about unifying people, cooperation and working together against competition. Deming wanted people to have the knowledge about the economy and business. He insisted that people should acquire new knowledge about how to trade and upgrade their way of living. Deming believed that trade is dependent on the quality and argued that there was a deep need in innovations and quality products. According to him, management is dependent on quality; and the adoption of quality control assumes change to be the destiny of the management. Long term thinking is a practical approach that will help reduce losses in quality and thus sales. Bad managerial skills lead to an upward trend in losses in both quality and sales; hence, need of transformation to quality control acceptance and implementation arises.
Taguchi argued that quality loss leads to fewer sales than when there is constant quality control in place. He stated that products designed to fit in the society should have minimal quality loss after its movement from one point to another. The rate of quality loss determines cost effectiveness of a product. Taguchi cited that prototyping a product is better before its production in order to guarantee its competitiveness in the market.
Similarity of Genichi Taguchi Approach and the Six Sigma Approach
Although there are differences between the Taguchi method and Six Sigma approach, the latter is a constituent part of the Taguchi approach. The Genichi Taguchi approach deals with control of quality, thus better management and evolution of products. Genichi Taguchi emphasized quality and customer-friendly relationship. He explained that quality enhances products to better satisfy customers. The six sigma approach explains in business, cost effective materials and products enhances consumer satisfaction. The Six Sigma contributes to product improvement. There is an association of the Six Sigma with product quality and success just like the Taguchi method. Yet, six sigma's philosophies originated Deming's approach.
The Preaching of Juran Influenced Taguchi in his Work
Juran preached the concept of quality assurance in 1950’s and suggested that quality was a mobilizing factor to better sales and management. He tirelessly worked to attain quality assurance and also steered the development of industries. He wanted to establish a system with the consideration of quality, which would lead to cost effectiveness. Juran believed that quality products enhanced peace among customers.
Taguchi wanted to bring a better understanding of quality levels. He further explained that product design must be considered. Like Juran, Taguchi believed that quality products should be cost-effective and ensuring better sales and customer acceptance. Companies should understand consumer needs for a better relationship. He urged firms and manufacturing industries to embrace good relationships with their customers to understand and identify change in their tastes and preferences.
Although Taguchi borrowed some ideas from Juran, he sought to modify and explain his concept in greater depth. Improvement was his main agenda hoping that all firms would consider it and avoid the assumptions made by the traditional approach. He wanted the firms to meet consumer expectations. For better elaboration, Taguchi sought to take Juran’s idea.
Firms hoping to expand, maintain their customers and make profits should put in place the idea of quality enhancement. Quality control is one aspect, which customers expect. Thus, understanding what they expect is relevant. Customers expect quality; and understanding customers’ expectation should be taken into consideration by all firms. Cost effectiveness should be targeted when producing all products. Achieving management success should be directed from quality. Production firms should consider producing products that comply with consumers’ needs, demands, and expectation.
The firms gain consumers’ trust after it understands their needs. Transformation should lead to change and evolution. Many firms today pay attention to quantity and sales increase disregarding quality and cost effectiveness of a product, which may lead to their extinction. Firms should ensure competition of quality of products rather than competition of products themselves. Firms should ensure that employees and consumers understand quality concept. New inventions should drive firms in achieving transformation. Tastes and preference of consumers should impact quality assurance.
Establishment of quality control management is a key to global competition. Patience is a factor that leads to attaining success, which should be planned for, persuaded and supported by the management. Implementing the Taguchi and Deming approaches to quality control can accelerate achievement of quality in manufacturing process. Industries should consider combining the Taguchi, Deming and the Six Sigma in order to achieve sufficient quality control and thus success. Quality in services is proportional to time and interaction between customers and employees. Firms should understand consumer needs before producing a product or delivering a service.