Total Quality Management for Project Management

Finding ways to improve margins can be the difference between organizations that thrive and those that simply survive during times of economic uncertainty. Describing why cost reductions can be just as powerful as increases in revenue, Total Quality Management for Project Management explains how to integrate time-tested project management tools with the power of Total Quality Management (TQM) to achieve significant cost reductions.

Detailing the ins and outs of applying project management methods to TQM activities, the book provides the understanding you’ll need to enhance the effectiveness of your TQM work. To clear up any confusion about what a true quality improvement is, it includes sections that cover the fundamentals of total quality management and defines the terms used throughout the text.

The book examines profitability as it relates to product cost—including the initial work determining investment paybacks. It compares TQM/PM versus Six Sigma and illustrates the use of scrum in the context of TQM for improving quality initiatives. Complete with real-world success stories that facilitate comprehension, it illustrates methods that can help to minimize distractions and keep your team focused.

The authors consider the full range of quality improvement tools as applied within the framework of project management. For the section of the book on the application of TQM to scrum, they demonstrate how these analytical methods can be used on the data produced within a scrum project and made into actionable information. Filled with innovative methods for improving costs, the text arms you with the tools to determine the approaches best suited to your corporate culture and capabilities.

Kim H. Pries has four college degrees: B.A. History from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), B.S. Metallurgical Engineering from UTEP, M.S. Metallurgical Engineering from UTEP, and M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from Carnegie-Mellon University. In addition to the degrees, he has the following certifications:

• APICS
• Certified Production and Inventory Manager (CPIM)
• American Society for Quality (ASQ)
• Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
• Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
• Certified Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
• Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)

Mr. Pries worked as a computer systems manager (IT), a software engineer for an electrical utility, a scientific programmer on defense contract and for Stoneridge, Incorporated (SRI), he has worked as:

• Software manager
• Engineering services manager
• Reliability section manager

Mr. Pries has provided Six Sigma training for both UTEP and SRI, cost reduction initiatives for SRI. Mr. Pries is also a founding faculty member of Practical Project Management. Additionally, in concert with Mr. Quigley, Mr. Pries is the co-founder and principal with Value Transformation, LLC, a training, testing, cost improvement, and product development consultancy. Mr. Pries also holds Texas teacher certification in mathematics, technological education, technological applications, and special education. Email Mr. Pries at kim.pries@ valuetransform.com. Mr. Pries’s first book was Six Sigma for the Next Millennium: A CSSBB Guidebook ISBN-13: 978-0873896566, now in a second edition as Six Sigma for the New Millennium: A CSSBB Guidebook, Second Edition (ISBN-13: 978- 0873897495).

Jon M. Quigley has three college degrees; B.S. Electronic Engineering Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Masters of Business Administration in Marketing, and a M.S. in Project Management from City University of Seattle. In addition to the degrees, he has the following certifications:

• Project Management Institute Project Management Professional (PMP)
• International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL)

In addition to the degrees and certifications, Mr. Quigley has a number of patents and awards:

• US Patent Award 6,253,131 Steering wheel electronic interface
• US Patent Award 6,130,487 Electronic interface and method for connecting the electrical systems of truck and trailer
• US Patent Award 6,828,924 Integrated vehicle communications display (also a European patent)
• US Patent Award 6,718,906 Dual scale vehicle gauge
• US Patent Award 7,512,477 Systems and Methods for Guiding Operators to Optimized Engine Operation
• US Patent Award 7,629,878 Measuring Instrument Having Location Controlled Display
• US Published Patent Application 20090198402 Method and system for operator interface with a diesel particulate filter regeneration system
• Volvo-3P Technical Award for global IC05 Instrument cluster project 2005
• Volvo Technology Award for global IC05 Instrument cluster project April 2006

Mr. Quigley has worked in a variety of capacities within the new product development organizations:

• Embedded product development engineer (hardware and software)
• Product engineer
• Test engineer
• Project Manager
• Electrical and electronic systems manager
• Verification and test manager

Mr. Quigley teaches project management classes at Forsyth Technical Community College as well as being on their project management advisory board. He is also on Western Carolina University’s Masters of Project Management advisory board. In concert with Mr. Pries, Mr. Quigley is co-founder and principal with Value Transformation, LLC, training, testing, cost improvement and product development consultancy. Email Mr. Quigley at jon.quigley@valuetransform.com.

Collectively, Mr. Pries and Mr. Quigley are the authors of the book Project Management of Complex and Embedded Systems: Ensuring Product Integrity and Program Quality, ISBN 1420070256 and Testing of Complex and Embedded Systems ISBN, 1439821402. Additionally, they have authored numerous magazine articles and presentations at product development conferences about various aspects of product development and project management.

• Embedded System Design
• Product Design and Development
• Embedded Design News (EDN)
• Software Test and Performance (STP)
• Electronics Weekly (on line)
• DSP Design Line (online)
• Design Reuse (on line)
• All Business (on line)
• Quality magazine (on line)
• Automotive Design Line and Automotive Design Line Europe (on line)
• Project Magazine (online)
• Tech Online India (online)
• Embedded Design India (online)

Additional information about Mr. Pries, Mr. Quigley and Value Transformation, LLC can be found at http://www.valuetransform.com. There are areas to ask the authors questions and exchange ideas about product development.