The object of this collection of conference papers is to promote the philosophy of total quality as an integral part of business management within the chemical industry. Topics discussed include specialist techniques, training for success and the European dimension.

In this book leading experts including George Box, Noriaki Kano, Yoshio Kondo, John Oakland and James Harrington, analyse and document various aspects of Total Quality Management. Contributions range from discussions of the principles, strategy, culture, leadership, eduction and benchmarking to world class experience and achieving excellence both in the manufacturing and service industries. With over 100 contributions this book is an invaluable resource for the total quality managment journey. It will be of special interest to educationalists, academics, senior managers and directors, and quality practitioners from both the public and private sectors.

In this introduction to each of the major sectors of the chemical industry the authors cover the important chemistry, products, processes and relevant statistics. Each contributor draws on his/her extensive industrial experience to give a balanced coverage which is both easy to read and authoritative. New chapters on quality and safety issues, environmental issues and an extended chapter on chlor-alkali, sulphur and nitrogen industries, reflect the importance of these subjects today.

Total Quality in the Chemical Industry relates first-hand experiences of both successes and the difficulties encountered in following the `Total Quality' philosophy. It is complementary to existing `how to' guides, illustrating the way this philosophy works in actual practice. The book begins with a brief introduction to the subject and goes on to describe real examples of the implementation of total quality management in industry, in both manufacturing and research. The bulk of the papers cover developments in the chemical industry but other industries are represented as well and the companies featured in the examples are widely recognized as being leaders in Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM is currently under criticism as being another management philosophy which fails to deliver, yet this book shows that success can be gained and that the potential rewards are well worth the effort. Total Quality Management in the Chemical Industry is essential reading for managers, section leaders and safety professionals in the chemical industry and in most manufacturing industries as well.

1 Oxford and Webster's dictionaries ,2 give trans-Atlantic agreement in English with a common definition for 'Quality' as 'degree of excellence'. Compared with the many words taken up by other authors' definitions, this is remarkably brief and no doubt unsatisfactory to many people. Yet if 'degree' means a stage in an ascending or descending series, in intensity or in amount, then measurement is by definition explicitly required if terms such as 'quality level', 'good quality', 'high quality' etc. are to have any real meaning. Using measurement is inherent in the methods of all the major writers on the achievement of business improvement through quality. Results from measurements allow improvement by using tools commonly grouped under the heading Statistical Process Control (SPC). Results also form part of the judging criteria of Total Quality Management (TQM) models such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the USA and the more recent European Quality Award. Future revisions of the ISO 9000 series of quality management system standards will specifically require measure ment of defects. However, it is not easy for quality professionals or line managers to find examples of what they should measure and how to do it in their own particular functions in their own particular industries; case st\}dies always seem to refer to others.

"This superbly researched, powerfully reasoned book shatters one of the most destructive business myths of our time: that a corporation must choose between higher profits and protection of the environment." "Instead, as the authors demonstrate with compelling case histories of ten spectacular corporate success stories of the 1990s, the opposite is actually true: A corporation that makes the environment a major priority not only reaps a huge harvest on the bottom line, but also gains a vital edge in the unrelentingly competitive marketplace of this decade of cost cutting." "The reason for this is almost staggeringly simple. Pollution of all kinds is just another word for industrial waste, and waste is exactly what no corporation in search of total quality in its product and of complete acceptance by the consumer can afford today." "The Total Quality Corporation also provides a fascinating overview of the growing challenges facing the three major economic regions of the world - Europe, Japan, and America. How corporations respond and how fast they do it will determine who wins in the ever more demanding race for global marketshare. And the race has already started, as is evident in this timely, compelling book."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The concept of Quality Management began in the manufacturing sector, but a growing concern with quality in other areas of the economy has led to its wider application in service industries, government, education, and other not-for-profit agencies. A great quantity of material related to quality management has been produced in recent years, much of it by small presses, professional and trade associations, and consultants. The Quality Management Sourcebook is the first in-depth, international guide to the most useful material and sources of information. The book begins with the origins of quality management, explains how it evolved, examines its current situation, and explores the future. The book is divided into five main sections: * Introduction: General sources for information * Applications of total quality management * Focus on specific aspects of quality management * Quality in the future * Resource materials The Quality Management Sourcebook is an essential reference for everybody involved in either the theory or practice of quality management: in manufacturing, retail, banking, and insurance, the utilities industry, the transportation industry, health, education and other public services. Over 900 citations cover books, journal articles, technical reports, video training materials and software. Each is followed by a descriptive annotation. Resource materials include strategies for locating additional information; training materials; organizations; and consultants. The book concludes with a glossary of quality management terms, a name index, a title index, and a detailed subject index.