Introduction
To be competitive, companies must keep up on improving their production processes and quality to increase the customers' contentment by applying quality control methodologies. Currently, companies try to use various methodologies like Six Sigma, Lean, TQM, and ISO 9000 to improve quality and boost their production (Boynton, 2007) . This paper summarizes, compares and contrasts the four methodologies, and recommend the best methodology a company can use in project management.
Methodologies overview
ISO 9000 is a multinational standard that sets the prerequisites which are accepted worldwide and are meant to meet the customer needs. This methodology is based on some quality management principles like strong customer concerns, incitement, implication on the top management. ISO 9000 ensures that the customers acquire consistent and high-quality items which bring benefits to the business (Bakator, Boric, & Petrovic, 2018) . The common tools used are: scatter charts, histograms, control charts, and Pareto analysis . On the other hand, Lean is a principle that identifies what brings value to the customer and removes all that does not add value. The policy helps the company reduce costs and enables the customer to buy high-quality goods and services at a minimum. Lean eliminates the waste tasks ensuring fewer human efforts, capital, and time applied, improving the efficiency of the organization (Chahal & Narwal, 2017) . It aims to manage the production process in the entire department. It applies various tools like cellular manufacturing, five whys, five S, and standardized work.
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Total Quality Management (TQM) improves processes to enhance customer satisfaction. It controls quality by providing a favorable working environment for the employees to improve their ability to produce goods and services. "Total" stresses on the departments to enhance in the production operations. "Management" emphasizes that the management should manage the quality of production through training employees, funding the projects, and setting standard goals for the company. It applies tools like scatter diagram, stratification, cause and effect diagrams, and histograms. On the other hand, Six Sigma is a quantifiable strategy that involves setting up a system and improving certain metrics like the manufacturing, services, and financial processes. This methodology applies quality improvement techniques, like flow, value streaming mapping, 5S, and DMAIC.
Similarities
The four quality improvement methodologies use some similar tools and techniques like flowcharting, and cause and effect of improving the product's quality. Flowcharting is used by organizations to document their processes. The tool helps the organizations sort out their operations and activities and understand their work efforts. The tool helps the organization to identify their needs and address them effectively. Also, organizations use cause and effect analysis tools to help organizations the actual cause of the problem. It enables the organization to get immediate instant feedback and look for other ways to carry out their operations.
Industries use these quality improvement methodologies to improve the efficiency of their performance and quality of goods and services. They help in eliminating the weaknesses in the business operations. The improvement methodologies are all used in the manufacturing industries to improve on the production. Lean is mostly used manufacturing industry to reduce misuse of resources and inefficiency in the operations. Six Sigma and ISO 9000 are used to ensure the conformity of the products and services produced. TQM helps to ensure the workers are working toward the set objectives and improving the production of each area.
Differences
The main aim of these four techniques is improving quality; however, the methodologies apply different tools in quality control and improvement. Unlike other methodologies, lean use tools like 5S, Kanban, Visual Stream Mapping, and Focus PDCA to improve the quality of products, minimize the cost while minimizing wastage (Lean Manufacturing Tools, 2011) . In contrast, Six Sigma applies qualitative and quantitative techniques to propel the improvement process. It applies tools like DMAIC, which measures, improve, and control quality; 5 whys, which results into a clean and safe workplace; cost-benefit; value streaming; and root cause analysis (ASQ, 2010). On the contrary, TQM applies statistical analysis tools, like histograms, stratification, and check sheet to improve quality (Anderson, Eriksson, & Torstensson, 2006) . TQM is championed by employees and quality circles. In contrast, ISO 9000 uses tools like Pareto analysis, trend analysis, histograms, and data table to improve quality. These tools allow the organization to identify low-quality and improvement techniques.
Recommendation
Quality improvement is essential in project management; it ensures that the project meets the requirements. In project management, the best quality control methodology is the Lean technique. Lean maximize project value while also minimizing wastage. It aims to develop a great project with fewer resources. In addition, this methodology is essential in ensuring that the project is completed in time at a reduced cost
Conclusion
Quality control methodologies are essential in improving the quality of products in an organization. The paper aimed to give an overview, compare, and contrast Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, and ISO 9000 improvement methodologies. The methodologies have similarities, such as application in manufacturing and using flow and cause and effect tools in quality control. The major differences concern the different tools used and types of industries that they are commonly applied. Businesses should implement the appropriate quality control methodology to improve their production.
References
Anderson, R., Eriksson, H., & Torstensson, H. (2006, May). Similarities and differences between TQM, Six Sigma, and lean. The TQM Magazine , 282-296. doi: 10.1108/09544780610660004
Bakator, M., Boric, S., & Petrovic, N. (2018). International Journal ’’Advanced Quality’’, Vol. 46, No. 1, 2018. year, Belgrade, Serbia. 17 Differences and Similarities Between Total Quality Management, ISO 9001, Lean Production, and Six Sigma. International Journal "Advanced Quality," 46 (1), 17-20. doi:10.25137/IJAQ.n1.v46.y2018.p17-20
Boynton, B. C. (2007). Identification of Process Improvement Methodologies with Application in Information Security. Proceedings of the 4th annual conference on Information security curriculum development, 28 , 1-5. doi:doi:10.1145/1409908.1409939
Chahal, V., & Narwal, M. S. (2017, July). An Empirical Review of Lean Manufacturing and their Strategies. Management Science Letters, 7 (7), 321-336. doi:10.5267/j.msl.2017.4.004
Lean Manufacturing Tools . (2011, January 6). Retrieved from Lean Manufacturing Tools Website: https://leanmanufacturingtools.org/
Quality Resources . (2010, August). Retrieved from American Society for Quality Website: https://asq.org/quality-resources/six-sigma/tools
