Abstract

The case “Tata Steel’s Journey of Implementing TQM” talks about the quality journey of India-based multinational steel-making company, Tata Steel Limited (Tata Steel), through the decades. The case starts out with a brief look at Tata Steel’s history and the parameters of the Deming Prize. It then gives an in-depth insight into Tata Steel’s TQM implementation journey that involved the adoption of various TQM systems, methodologies, tools, and processes. It also touches upon the role played by the Tata Steel employees in TQM implementation. The case ends with the benefits that the company derived from TQM implementation, one of them being its emergence as one of the top ten largest steel companies in the world.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the various ways to implement TQM techniques in organizations
• Understand how the quest to attain the Deming Prize laid the foundation for achieving TQM in an organization
• Examine the role of the employees in the successful implementation of TQM in an organization
• Analyze the benefits provided by the companywide implementation of TQM

Keywords

Operations Management; Total Quality Management; Deming Prize; Quality Journey; Training & Development; TQM Framework; Supplier Value Management (SVM); Daily Management; Quality Circles; Juran Triology; Value Engineering (VE); Quality Improvement Projects (QIP); Benchmarking; Total Operative Performance (TOP); Total Productive Maintenance, and Annual Quality Improvement Plan (AQUIP)