BPR is closely related to TQM because it is one of the best tools to achieve total quality and to improve a company’s performance significantly. Both TQM and BPR primarily focus on customers, both are process-oriented and both involve cross-functional activities. While TQM aims at process improvement, BPR aims at drastic changes to improve a process, if possible, by discarding the existing process and developing an entirely new, improved process.
Both TQM and BPR are customer-oriented. They both aim at improving customer satisfaction and suggest that it is important to analyse the situation from the customer’s viewpoint. Also, both TQM and BPR are process-oriented. They both target altering the processes, but not just the product. Moreover, they both take the team approach.
Nearly all BPR projects are initiated by the top-down approach. Since BPR results in great changes, staff resistance is obvious. Therefore, the top management’s support and commitment are very important. For TQM, both top-down approach and the bottom-up approach are possible.
The basic assumptions of TQM and BPR are different. TQM aims for smooth and incremental improvements whereas BPR aims at dramatic results. The objective of TQM is to improve on the basis of the existing system. However, BPR assumes that the existing system is useless and suggests starting it over. TQM emphasizes the total involvement of all the stakeholders including suppliers and customers. TQM also recommends involving all the processes in the company, including human resources management, order fulfilling, manufacturing, marketing and customer management and others. However, for BPR, the project can be limited to a specified area only.
Standardization is one of the critical points of TQM. TQM aims to standardize the practices, thus achieving a consistent performance. It also ensures that there is a certain degree of documentation. However, BPR emphasizes flexibility and believes that standardization would increase the complexity of the process. Therefore, standardization is rare in BPR and the level of documentation is much lower.
TQM emphasizes the use of statistical process control. However, there is no similar concern for BPR. On the other hand, BPR emphasizes on information technology as an enabler.
TQM is a cultural issue. Once the culture is built, TQM is absorbed in the daily operation. However, BPR is a project. It has a clear target that needs to be achieved as soon as possible.
Source: Poornima M. Charantimath (2017), Total Quality Management, Pearson; 3rd edition.
Some really terrific work on behalf of the owner of this web site, utterly great subject material.
This is the fitting blog for anyone who wants to search out out about this topic. You understand a lot its almost onerous to argue with you (not that I really would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!