Quality Strategies and Deployment

Quality Strategies and Deployment
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Quality Strategies and Deployment
The quality process has become a critical strategy among business organizations as they try to maintain or raise their competitive advantage as well as improve the productivity and profitability (Lohrmann & Reichert, 2013). Different organizations implement different quality process strategies depending on their goals with the aim of ensuring that both the business and the consumers will reap the benefits. One of such organizations is Sony Global whose focus is to continue improving the quality of their products and services according to the needs of their customers to enhance the customer satisfaction as well as confidence and trust (Sony Global, 2017). According to the company’s philosophy and policy, since its foundation, the organization has focused on quality and has strived to ensure compliance with or exceed the legally mandated standards set for all business as far as the safety of products and services are concerned. Sony understands that through the quality process a lot can be achieved not only in the marketing but also efficiency regarding production.
Sony implements its quality process through the quality management system which defines the mechanisms for quality management across all processes (Sony Global, 2017). The process includes planning and development as well as designing and manufacturing of their products. The implementation of the quality process in the organization also incorporates sales as well as the customer service.

Recently, the company made a review of the quality strategy through the definition of the roles and responsibilities as well as the authority of both the personnel and the departments to ensure that their quality process remains updated (Tudorache, 2013). Additionally, based on the new quality management system, the company has set up a framework that ensures that the quality process in continuously improved on an ongoing basis. The framework requires that the entire organization work together which include the manufacturing sites and the regional headquarter, where the two are linked by the business unit under which the manufacturing falls and sales company which controls the sales company (Tudorache, 2013).
There various reasons why business implement quality process and they differ from one organization to another and they include legal requirements for quality products for consumer consumption. In the case of Sony firm, some of the main reasons include ensuring customer satisfaction as well as confidence and trust (Sony Global, 2017). The idea is that when the company wins the customer trust and confidence, they will be able to raise their sales as well as revenue and profitability. Besides, when customers are satisfied with the quality of a company’s product, they are more likely to become loyal and increase the company’s competitive advantage. The other reason is that quality process is known to reduce the cost of operation as the resources are consumed in the most efficient way possible. Whether to earn the consumer loyalty or reducing the cost of operation, the main agenda for the quality control is to ensure survival for the company (Peratec Ltd, 2012).
Sony Global uses different strategies to implement its quality process where the combination of these strategies is what the company calls its quality management system. One of the strategies is by making the own the decisions in the company. The company ensured by including the managers as well as the employees in the decision making would help them own the idea of the quality process in the company as they would come up with the ideas that they will be able to achieve. The other strategy is through making the whole workforce feel valued in the company through training to increase their skills. For the workforce to be committed to the company’s aim, they need to feel as part and parcel of the process and training them, and career development is the best strategy (Peratec Ltd, 2012). The other strategy is enhancing its relationship with their suppliers to eliminate the problem of being supplied with substandard materials. The last is by ensuring that their customers are always satisfied with their products.
One of the methods used is through defining the roles and the responsibilities of the managers where they are expected to assume the role of the managing director in their work area (Peratec Ltd, 2012). The goals for the work area are set between the manager and the superiors where the targets are set and then evaluated on a weekly basis to assess the performance. Where the targets are met tougher ones are set, and where they are not met, the review identifies the problem and solutions are found. The other method is through ensuring total involvement of the workforce through training where all employees are trained of problem-solving and the use of communication systems to enhance quality awareness throughout the organization (Peratec Ltd, 2012). Another way is through designing of the products where the focus is to maximize the quality (Peratec Ltd, 2012). The company achieves this by conducting an assessment of the current products to identify any areas that can be improved where the information is usually from the customer feedback (Sony Global, 2017). Lastly, the enhancement of the relationship with their supplier is achieved through developing a strong working relationship with the suppliers and eliminating the quality inspectors who are a sign of mistrust.
However, Sony did not manage in implementing its quality process without any obstacles as those are common in the business world. Though the company has always promised quality products to their customers, in 1987, it faced a major challenge in ensuring the quality. The problem originated from the quality of all incoming components from their suppliers, which caused defects in their products (Peratec Ltd, 2012). The company was, however, able to overcome this challenge as it formed work groups that maintained a strong relationship with the suppliers and eliminated the strategy of the incoming inspector who would direct the quality control at source (Peratec Ltd, 2012). Since then the problem was sorted, and the company has managed to emerge as an example of businesses which ensure quality.
In conclusion, the quality process is a significant strategy for every business organization especially in the recent times of globalization and competition as increased. The focus is to ensure that the organization maintains competitive advantage through the provision of quality products as well as ensuring efficiency in the production. Sony Global is one of the best examples which ensure quality process. The company policy focuses on providing quality to its consumers as well as ensuring quality management is implemented in all the processes starting from planning to developing and designing of the product manufacturing and sales as well as customer services. Through the quality management system, the company ensures that all their process are regularly reviewed and are up-to-date.
References
Lohrmann, M., & Reichert, M. (2013). Understanding Business Process Quality. In M. Glykas, Business Process Management (pp. 41-73). Berlin: Springer.
Peratec Ltd, (2012). Total Quality Management: The Key to Business Improvement. 2nd ed. Beckenham: Springer Science & Business Media.
Sony Global. (2017, August 23). Product Quality and Quality Management. Retrieved February 02, 2017, from Sony Global Website: https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/csr_report/quality/policy/
Tudorache, A. (2013, November 29). Total Quality Management – a Means for Improvement. Retrieved January 02, 2018, from Performance Magazine Website: http://www.performancemagazine.org/total-quality-management-a-means-for-improvement/