Total Quality Project Management for the Design Firm: How to Improve Quality, Increase Sales, and Reduce Costs

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Book Info
Total Quality Project Management for the Design Firm In 1989 IBM spent a staggering $2.4 billion in warranty costs. And while this was certainly bad news for a company legendary for its high production standards, cost figures showed that the news was not much better for engineering, architectural, and other technical service firms. The inevitable move towards high-cost quality controls also drove up design fees. The result for many design firms: shrinking bottom-line profits. But ensuring quality isn’t always a costly proposition. At least that’s what some design professionals have discovered. In fact, a sensible, disciplined program of quality improvement. Total Quality Project Management can transform the machinery of any design project into an efficient, cost-effective, and highly motivated professional team. Author and veteran design consultant Frank Stasiowski and project management expert David Burstein demonstrate how a number of leading design firms made the successful transition to TQPM, outlining how this effective tool can be practically applied to an entire range of design project problems, from sales and administration to budgeting and more. Featuring real-life examples of TQPM in a variety of applications, this practical book provides clear, easy-to-follow guidance on:

• Identifying quality problems on studies, design projects, and construction projects
• A fresh approach to improving administration, marketing, and management
• Keeping your clients happy
• Implementing TQPM in your firm and making your project team competitive for the ’90s

Not only do the authors reshape your fundamental attitudes about quality, but they also reveal how to eliminate those expensive, profit-threatening quality control problems from your organization forever. The book also comes complete with numerous forms useful for self-analysis, evaluation, and action as well as a convenient glossary of terms, checklists, and references to more specialized reading. A must for design firm managers determined to boost their firm’s bottom line in the ’90s, Total Quality Project Management for the Design Firm is a blueprint and handbook to restyling your organization into an efficient, cost-effective service firm.

The publisher, John Wiley & Sons
Explains how the same quality improvement techniques used successfully in manufacturing can be adapted to design projects. Includes every aspect of how a technical service firm conducts its business. Describes how to solve sales, administration, budget control and other problems as well as ways to keep clients happy. Contains actual examples of TQPM in a variety of applications. Features numerous forms for self-analysis, evaluation and action.

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