Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to:

12.1 Explain the relationship between total quality management (TQM) and supply chain management.

12.2 Identify TQM implementation challenges.

12.3 Describe how the supplier satisfies the buying firm’s performance expectations.

12.4 Demonstrate how to use statistical process control for detecting quality variation.

12.5 Discuss the various quality awards and certifications earned by suppliers.

12.6 Explain the importance of continuous improvement.

12.7 Explain how cost is influenced by design quality.