TQM CONCEPTS

3Ms

In the process of implementing Total Quality Management, the Japanese developed various simple and easily understandable concepts such as 5S, 3Ms, 5W and 1H etc,. The purpose of such concepts was to enable Japanese workers and supervisors to easily understand and implement TQM in their organization. Such concepts also help the management to focus its efforts while implementing TQM.

3Ms stands for the Japanese words Muri, Mura and Muda. Muri means strain and refers to activities, which inflict strain on the workers. Mura means inconsistency and refers to inconsistency in product quality. Muda means waste and refers to all waste on the shopfloor. It primarily refers to the seven wastes due to Overproduction, Waiting time, Transportation, Process, Inventory, Motion and Product defects

The concept of 3Ms helps to identify pain areas in the organization on which to focus Kaizen activities (improvement activities). Once the important focus areas are identified using the 3Ms concept, Kaizen activities can be undertaken.