Sal Ltd. Is Currently Looking

SAL Ltd. is currently looking to increase its global presence. In doing so, it would be using the same products it already manufactures, and would strive to succeed through the principles of efficient operations. A major role in this effort would be placed by the integration of technologic developments at all operational levels.

Nonetheless, in order to maximize the outcomes of its operations and to attain its objectives, it is necessary for the company to create and implement a strong program of quality management. The starting point in the development of such a program is represented by the comprehension and integration of two essential concepts: total quality management and ISO 9000.

Total quality management is virtually a combination of tools and techniques that ensure that the individual / group / organization etc. attains its objectives through the satisfaction of the needs and wants forwarded by its customer base, by the motivation and engagement of the staff members and by the organization operating in a socially responsible manner.

This approach to attaining the business objectives is multifaceted and implies countless efforts; it is tedious and it requires long-term commitments, but it also ensures long-term stability of the results. In a more professional formulation:

Total quality management represents the "continuous process of reducing or eliminating errors in manufacturing, streamlining supply chain management, improving the customer experience and ensuring that employees are up-to-speed with their training. Total quality management aims to hold all parties involved in the production process as accountable for the overall quality of the final product or service" (Investopedia, 2012).

At the level of ISO 9000, this represents a class of quality management standards, highly similar to the concepts of TQM, but with the difference that while TQM is a choice of the firm, compliance with ISO is necessary within specific global regions. Since SAL intends to further increase its global presence, it would have to comply with these standards.

"The ISO 9000 family of standards represents an international consensus on good quality management practices. It consists of standards and guidelines relating to quality management systems and related supporting standards" (International Organization for Standardization, 2012).

In the case of the ISO standards, the approach of the company is quite simple -- the firm would document the requirements of the standards and would fully implement them. Upon penetrating a new market, it should contract the services of legal specialists and business specialists to provide support on the legislations of the country, as well as other common business practices. The use of a business and legal consultant would allow the company to increase its chances of success within the new market through the simultaneous attainment of two outcomes:

First of all, the company would become able to fully comply with the standards and practices in the new market, and secondly

SAL Ltd. would be better able to focus on its core operations, rather than having to spend time and resources to conduct tedious research.

In other words, the usage of consultants is in line with the organizational commitment to attaining its objectives and doing so in the most efficient manner possible.

While compliance under ISO 9000 is rather straightforward, the development of a managerial program for total quality management is a more complex effort. It includes commitments on the part of the firm to fully satisfy the needs and wants of the customers, to motivate and empower its staff members and to operate in a manner in which the well-being of all stakeholder categories is forwarded.

At a more detailed level, a plan to implement total quality management would be comprised of the following:

Creating a constancy of purpose in creating high quality products and services

Adopting a new philosophy centered on total quality

Improving the power and role of inspection to increase quality

Increasing the quality of the supplier contracts and eliminating the sole power of cost in choosing suppliers

Continually striving to improve all processes linked to planning, production and service