7.1.2 TQM Initiatives

The impacts of these initiatives improve product quality while reducing the time and resources required to design, manufacture, warehouse and ship products.

• Benchmarking: Reduces Administrative overhead;
• Quality Function Deployment Effort: Reduces R&D cycle time and enhances the effectiveness of the Promotion and Sales Budgets;
• CCE (Concurrent Engineering)/6 Sigma Training: Reduces material costs and labor costs;
• GEMI TQEM Sustainability: The Global Environmental Management Initiative Total Quality Environmental Management initiative reduces labor costs as it minimizes environmental risks. These include production methods which protect employee health and redesign of products to have fewer toxic by-products. The initiative also reduces material costs, as it promotes recycling and other material use efficiencies.