3.TQM does not insulate you from failures, mistakes and criticism, and it takes determination to remain constant in purpose. But the Noyce experience assures the dubious, to firms that persevere, TQM offers a refreshingly different and rewarding approach to practice, with benefits for all stakeholders - partners, employees, suppliers and particularly, clients. The training session is quite arduous. A lot of homework is required. Workshops follow the general discussion.
Enthusiasm is high and the sense of co-operation is palpable.
Training with the others is the President of QIL, Law Society Councillor Philip King, a tireless advocate for TQM and QIL whose benefits to the legal profession he has been expounding since 1992. Membership, now at 85-plus, is growing at the rate of about three firms a week. Almost two thirds of members are small firms or sole practitioners, but also included are the Law Council of Australia, the New South Wales Attorney General's Department, the Legal Services Commission of South Australia and the Quality Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria. Late in 1994 the Board of Directors of QIL, in consultation with the Australian Quality Council, produced the QIL Code of Quality Management and starting in March this year conducted an inaugural 15-week training course for members. The Code is an extremely detailed and comprehensive statement on TQM and QIL outlining the history of the movement and spelling out the five-stage process aspirants may traverse to reach the pinnacle of an Australian Quality Award.