8600-318 Understanding Quality Management in the Workplace

Introduction

8600-318 Understanding Quality Management in the Workplace is a unit that focuses on improving the ability of managers to facilitate quality management techniques and approaches within their areas of responsibility. This is a unit within the ILM Level 3 that focuses on improving the leadership and capability management within the organisation. In the modern world, quality management has become a critical aspect that influences the performance of the organisation both in achieving the desired levels of competitive advantage as well as achieving the desired goals and objectives that are set for the organisation.

Leaders must be able to strategically position themselves in a place where they conclusively influence the process of quality management. This involves overseeing the production to ensure that the employees are able to deliver quality products as well as ensuring that the services provided to the customers me the set and expected quality standards within the organisation and from the market level perspective.

Quality management focuses on understanding both the standards of production and ensuring that processes within the organisation are monitored to facilitate success in the accomplishment of objectives and facilitating evaluation of the efficiency of the selected approaches and strategies for achieving quality standards. The main purpose and aim of the unit are to develop the knowledge and understanding among the potential and practising managers on the role that quality management plays in improving the performance of the organisation and its market share. The unit is taught in 6 hours of guided learning and contributes 2 credit values in the completion of the Level 3 ILM module in general.

Who is this unit suitable for?

Quality management stands as a fundamental responsibility for managers and leaders within an organization. Each leader must ensure the success of their respective areas of responsibility by implementing quality management techniques that foster achievement, whether it be in teams, departments, or the organization as a whole. Therefore, 8600-318 Understanding Quality Management in the Workplace is a unit dedicated to providing learners with essential knowledge on approaches that enhance their comprehension and effective management of quality within the organization and the teams they lead.

This unit is tailored to meet the learning needs of managers at the lower levels of leadership. It aligns perfectly with the requirements of first-line managers, junior managers, and team leaders within the organization who lead project teams to ensure the delivery of products and services to both internal and external customers. Additionally, the unit is highly applicable to other leaders within the organization.

While first-level managers focus on facilitating team performance to deliver organizational products and services, executive managers and line managers bear the responsibility of establishing practices and policies that emphasize quality management at higher levels of organizational leadership. As such, they play a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability of quality management approaches. The knowledge and skills acquired through the completion of this unit are beneficial not only to leaders but also to other stakeholders, including employees and external consultants.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successfully completing the unit, the learner will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Significance of Quality:
  • Understand the importance of quality to both internal and external customers within the workplace, recognizing its impact on customer satisfaction and organizational success.
• Total Quality Management (TQM):
  • Show a comprehensive understanding of the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM), encompassing its principles, methodologies, and applications within the organizational context.
• Design vs. Process Quality Standards:
  • Identify and differentiate between design quality standards, which focus on product or service specifications, and process quality standards, which pertain to the efficiency and effectiveness of production processes.
• Cost of Quality:
  • Grasp the various components and implications of the cost of quality within the workplace, including prevention, appraisal, internal failure, and external failure costs.
• Quality Systems:
  • Describe the quality systems that are currently implemented within their specific workplace, elucidating the frameworks and mechanisms in place to ensure and maintain high-quality standards.
• Workplace Standards:
  • Identify and comprehend the standards that have been established for the workplace, encompassing both industry-specific regulations and internal organizational benchmarks.
• Tools for Quality Monitoring:
  • Identify and evaluate the tools available for effectively monitoring quality within the workplace, considering both traditional and innovative approaches to quality assurance.
• Role of Record-Keeping in Quality Maintenance:
  • Understand the pivotal role of maintaining accurate and thorough records in upholding and ensuring quality within the workplace, recognizing the importance of documentation for continuous improvement.
• Quality Improvement Plan:
  • Develop a practical and positive plan outlining strategic steps to enhance and improve quality standards within the workplace, considering proactive measures for ongoing quality enhancement.

Key Learning Areas

8600-318 Understanding Quality Management in the Workplace is a comprehensive unit designed to cultivate an appreciation for the pivotal role that effective quality management plays in enhancing organizational performance. This unit delves into critical principles of quality management, focusing on key areas:

Understanding Quality:

This learning domain imparts essential principles that heighten awareness of quality management. Learners gain an introduction to the concept of quality and grasp the significance of enhancing quality within the organization to fulfill obligations to both internal and external stakeholders. Differentiating concepts such as quality assurance, quality control, design quality, and process quality standards is emphasized. The unit guides learners in understanding the cost of quality and introduces the term “total quality management.”

Principles and Theories of Quality Management:

This segment provides crucial information and support regarding the broader concept of quality management. It expands on Total Quality Management, introducing various quality systems like continuous improvement, Kaizen, Kanban, and others. Learners explore different elements of quality standards, including legal frameworks and market labeling. Understanding the advantages and benefits associated with accreditation against quality standards is covered, along with strategies to attain accreditation within their areas of responsibility. The unit also guides learners in developing practical and actionable steps to implement selected interventions for determining quality practices and policies within the organization. This includes the identification of performance levels within the organization and their areas of responsibility, as well as the facilitation of effective monitoring and improvement of quality.

An Assessment

Upon concluding the unit, learners undergo an assessment to gauge their attainment of learning outcomes in 8600-318 Understanding Quality Management in the Workplace. This assessment entails responding to a template that includes specific questions designed to evaluate theoretical knowledge and the practical application of concepts. Learners are evaluated through various methods, including case studies, simulated exercises, and supervised practice, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of their understanding and proficiency in applying the acquired knowledge.

Journals

• International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management (2023, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 362-385)
• Journal of Quality Engineering (2023, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 182-205)
• Quality Management Journal (2023, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 286-311)
• Total Quality Management & Business Excellence (2023, Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 332-356)
• European Journal of Quality Management (2023, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 192-216)

FAQ

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