Employee empowered quality improvement

Abstract

Continuous improvement in quality has been made possible by the use of a complete quality program which fully utilizes the knowledge and capabilities of an entire workforce. The program includes formal quality policy deployment, training, a seven-step quality improvement process, and the use of poka-yoke or mistake-proofing devices. It is concluded that employees empowered to create continuous quality improvement have demonstrated that zero defects is an obtainable goal. True empowerment is only achieved by establishing quality policy based on employee involvement, establishing valid indicators, providing training to all employees, and encouraging all employees to use the latest quality improvement and mistake proofing techniques every day.>