Total Quality

A story about our project management approach

Since its founding in 1993, TES Engineering has been focused on project management as a key to client satisfaction.  We began formal project management training in 2002, first published our own personalized Project Management Guide in 2006, and have most recently embarked upon a comprehensive total quality management program this year.

Total Quality Project Management became widely known by its use in the reconstruction of Japan and is often associated with W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran. An excellent summary of their contributions can be found in this Businessweek article.

At its core, the concept makes the case for quality being built in to a product or service and not simply inspected for at the completion of the process.  Imagine an auto manufacturer having to check every lug nut for proper torque before rolling the car out of the factory.  This would be absolutely impossible.  So, auto manufacturers have built a process that ensures every lug nut is properly installed as the vehicle is being constructed.  If the assembler notices a problem, he doesn’t report it to his boss, he stops the line.  The problem is then corrected before hundreds of cars are shipped to customers.

This is exactly the system TES Engineering is emulating.  We want to free up our quality assurance professionals to spend all their time to build in quality, rather than checking for it at the end.  Building in TQPM to our business is a long and calculated process, but one that will create a more efficient, accurate, and enjoyable workplace, as well as a much better service experience for our clients.

We’re following the industry specific guidance of PSMJ Resources and its book Total Quality Management for the Design Firm.  A summary of the book can be viewed on PSMJ’s website.  It is engaging and helpful to read a business-oriented book that is geared directly to the consulting engineering community.