A quality improvement plan for a technical department within a petrochemical company

Abstract

Quality improvement initiatives have been implemented by various manufacturing companies. Through initiatives such as international standards organization, lean production, total quality management systems and six sigma, quality has improved dramatically while optimizing production and costs. This study gives insight into the constraints that the case study organization experiences due to restructuring initiatives. The review assisted in identifying barriers that inhibit the implementation of the full potential of the current quality management systems. The study included a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the current organization culture and perceptions. Through the analysis of this data, a quality improvement plan was developed to assist the organization in the implementation of the quality management systems. It is critical for a company to have leadership commitment towards quality and assist in the development of its personnel. This promotes continuous improvement of an organization and ensures that it is competitive in the global market. "Quality is not an act, it is a habit" - Aristotle