Case Study
Quality Tooling Case Study
The Quality Tooling Company (QTC) was set up in the North East of England by a young
graduate Engineer, in the early 1960’s.
The main items of manufacture comprised engineers’ rules, engineering calipers, scribes (the
initial product range, which supplied the local engineering industry) and then expanding to
include micrometers and a limited range of specialist items which required high quality
materials and skills to produce accurate and long‐lasting items.
Due to the decline of engineering in the North East of England and increased competition from
globalization, QTC realised that, although the product range commanded great respect
throughout the industry – from both customers and competitors, this course of business
activity was untenable in the long term. An alternative, radical strategy had to be developed
to ensure the survival of the business.
The QTC production plant was well equipped with a strong financial base, the workforce was
loyal, and many of whom had begun their employment from school or university and worked
their way up the corporate ladder.
The commitment and loyalty of the workforce is recognised and rewarded by the company in
various ways, due to the owner’s philanthropic and moral beliefs and a willingness to embrace
modern management principles.
The son and daughter of the owner had also followed the QTC career path and were keen to
give the business a 21st Century philosophy.
The business had to evolve into a new, engineering‐based entity.
In 2010, an approach was made to QTC by the North‐East Hospital Management Board, for the
design and manufacture of handheld precision medical equipment, initially for research work.
The Board had acquired funding to develop keyhole surgery and other pioneering treatment
techniques. In 2012, the Board signed a two‐year contract with QTC to manufacture these
cutting‐edge products on a larger scale.
This new market has expanded rapidly over the last three years and QTC is receiving worldwide
recognition for its product range and company image. QTC now realises that the business must project itself to customers, suppliers and investors as a world class, 21st Century
organisation with vision, energy and conscience.
Assignment
As the newly appointed Quality Manager for the Quality Tooling Company, you have been
asked by the Senior Management Team to prepare a 3000 word report to explain how you
would introduce a companywide quality improvement strategy. This improvement strategy
must include the Total Quality Management, Quality Assurance and Quality Control
implications for QTC. You are also to explain how the improvement strategy would help to
sustain the Culture of Quality in the organisation.
Your assignment report should consist of:
An introduction which explains the focus of the assignment.
The main body of the text where you develop and explain how you would introduce a
companywide quality improvement strategy in the Quality Tooling Company in line with the
stipulations above which must include, Total Quality Management, Quality Assurance, Quality
Control and the sustainability of the Culture of Quality.
A conclusion briefly reiterating the focus of the assignment and summarising the
improvements you have identified
The assignment sample is attached as a pdf file
