The last principle is Principle 7. Eliminate work standards, quotas and quantitative objectives in the production and service areas. Eliminate performance ratings. These principles are key to the success of TQM, but I feel one of the most important TQM practices is continuous improvement. This practice emphasizes ongoing efforts to improve productivity and quality.
Continuous improvement is a necessity for all operations and all work activities in a company.
Edward Deming believes that there are four areas all organizations should concentrate on while trying to achieve continuous improvement. Deming also believed that, improvement is driven not only by objective to provide better quality, but also by the need to be responsive and efficient. Also, to meet all of these objectives, Deming believed the process of continuous improvement must contain regular cycles of planning, execution, and evaluation. Ford Motor Co. is a firm believer in TQM and its principal of continuous improvement. The President, Donald Peterson, believed that there are three classes of customers needs.