Masonry Magazine April 1995 Page. 15
Benefits of the
Quality Problem
Solving Process
While the Quality Problem Solving Process takes study and practice to master, it's a simple, logical way to deal effectively with the problems which face you on a daily basis.
By ALFRED R. ROACH JR.
Callahan/Roach & Associates
One of the major benefits of the Quality Improvement Process is that it focuses a company's attention on the most important company asset-its customers. Your future depends on your company's ability to keep your customers more than satisfied, and quality shows you how to do that. But QIP offers much more. Quality also includes techniques and systems which will greatly improve a company's operating efficiency, and, therefore, its profitability. One of the most significant skills included in QIP is the Quality Problem Solving Process. While this process, like any other skill, takes study and practice to master, it's a simple, logical way for you to deal effectively with the inevitable problems which face you on a daily basis.
But why use the Quality Problem Solving Process? Why not continue to solve problems the way you have in the past? Because the way that you currently solve problems doesn't work. Under your current system of problem solving: You don't take time to analyze the problem and, therefore, never completely understand the nature of the problem; You struggle with large, ambiguous problems; You keep solving the same problem over and over again; You grab the first solution that comes to mind and often miss the best solution; You limit the problem solvers (typically to management) and don't take advantage of the wealth of information and ideas of your employees; and You don't measure and evaluate the progress of your solutions and, therefore, never know whether or not you have selected the best solution.
The result of your current system of problem solving is unresolved problems, frustration, wasted time, poor morale and a constant fear of the next problem you must face. This is management by reaction. You are a firefighter-not a manager. This system doesn't work.
On the other hand, the Quality Problem Solving Process teaches you: To thoroughly analyze your problems so that you understand all of the causes; To break your problems down into solvable, manageable sizes; To look at all possible solutions not just the first one that comes to
MASONRY-MARCH/APRIL, 1995 15