To date, the list of management tools that can help a company improve its efficiency includes a truly huge number of different concepts and theories. However, recently, the most popular theories in quality management can be combined into a single concept. The first step in its implementation for many companies is to obtain an ISO 9000 series certificate. The first quality management methods appeared back in the days of medieval workshops when a more experienced worker evaluated each product of an apprentice. Since then, many tools have been developed to control the quality of production processes. Currently, the most advanced approach to the problem of building a quality management system is the concept of TQM (Total Quality Management – Universal Quality Management).
The main idea of TQM is that the company should work not only on the quality of products but also on the quality of the organization of work in the company, including staff work. The international non-governmental organization ISO was founded in 1947 to develop unified worldwide quality standards. The ISO 9000 series standards are requirements that are more or less fulfilled at any enterprise anyway (contract analysis, documentation management, product control). The main difference between TQM and ISO 9000 series standards is that TQM is the pinnacle of modern quality management methods and focuses on improving the quality of products when there is already a certain level achieved. The introduction of ISO 9000 series standards is rather aimed at reducing the likelihood of making mistakes. At the same time, the implementation of ISO standards makes it possible to prepare the base and eliminate obstacles to introducing other quality management tools included in the TQM concept.
Summing up, we can say that TQM is still an advanced system of modern quality management methods to improve the quality of products at the already achieved level. The introduction of ISO standards is more focused on reducing the likelihood that products will be made incorrectly or not meet the requirements. The development of the quality standards system does not stop, and it is unlikely that they will ever stop improving due to the emergence of new needs.