Thus, proper planning directly improves quality and productivity. A strategic component of TQM is work scheduling. Early in the process, all parties must define quality and schedule requirements. Partnering, involving all parties prior to the definition and development of design quality criteria, will reduce costs from design and schedule changes after the rebuild process has started. Rapid changes in the cable industry have disrupted standard quality definition practices.
Successful projects involve numerous interdependent resources.
Because of high turnover in project management personnel, quality definition increasingly occurs during and after contract negotiations instead of up front, where it belongs. As a result, MSO and contractor requirements are not integrated, and costs escalate. Downsizing, merging and employee turnover all have reduced the probability that corporate culture will automatically produce proper quality definitions. Despite this, the MSO stills needs to define quality objectives. Establishing the quality benchmark becomes even more critical as completion times shorten, material lead times lengthen and engineering resources dwindle.