5.3.6 (HL)—Impact of lean production and TQM

Lean and TQM can reduce waste, defects and cost while improving reliability, but they require investment, training and cultural change.

Benefits depend on stable processes and employee involvement; excessive targets can increase stress, hide defects or shift costs to suppliers.

Balance measurable gains with effects on people, resilience, suppliers and customer experience.

A hospital standardises equipment locations and invites nurses to improve the layout; errors fall, but emergency stock is retained to protect resilience.

Short-term cost reduction is not the same as total quality or sustainable improvement.