Thus every employee is encouraged to learn to perform their job in such a way that the appropriate parts are delivered to the next person at just the right time and in the right condition for that person to perform their job. This "just-in-time" approach minimizes inventory carrying costs and increases the effectiveness and productivity of the line.
This methodology can and should be expanded to other parts of the organization if TQM is to be fully implemented. Although it is most clearly understood with regard to manufacturing and assembly, it also applies to other departments, such as accounting. It is up to the accounting staff, for example, to make sure that appropriate budget reports are delivered to staff members on time for review, and that those reports are accurate. It is the responsibility of the marketing department to make sure that promotional materials for new products are prepared and distributed to the media in a timely fashion and in a way that the media can provide support for new product introductions. In this way, "customers" can b
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