Integration of work measurement and Total Quality Management

Total Quality Management (TQM) emphasizes continuous improvements and quality. However, Deming, in his 14 Points (an early framework for TQM), explicitly discourages time standards. However, time standards have historically been used to measure work and evaluate productivity improvements. The objective of this study was to determine how industry addresses these conflicting views. To accomplish this, two questionnaires - plant or quality manager's survey and production worker's survey - were designed. Questionnaires were sent to 437 companies in different industries located in the Midwest in the US. This study has found that companies used both work measurement and TQM with high acceptances from their employees. The study differentiated work measurement applications in companies with respect to the existence of TQM. The study shows that time standards can be used in various applications without affecting the workers' acceptance. Fear and distrust of time standards, as claimed by Deming was not found. Cooperation and teamwork, quality, productivity and continuous improvement were also not affected negatively. One exception, however, was the application of time standards in incentive pay that affected quality and continuous improvement.