Challenges and Suggestion in Implementing Key Element of Quality Managemet

...

or anything serious thing happens, but still there is miscommunication, which had to be solved sooner or later. The gap between them does not mean that they have bad blood with each other, but rather there are not close enough and does not each other well enough. This becomes a challenge in implementing Total Quality Management as it can affect the performance of their work and also the quality of it. With bad relationship with each other, they can affect their mood and personal feeling which might get into their professional work. At Seremban 2 fire station, this problem is solved through the implementation and establishment of internal club which were joined by all of the members. The programs includes playing soccer together, eating together through ‘potluck’ for festivities feast, handle programs under the banner of the internal club and many more. Surely through these programs, the members will feel closer with each other thus creating good relationship between them.

In conclusion, there are various challenges that faced by the squad members at the Seremban 2 fire station in the implementation of Total Quality Management. Through analysis and research, it can be seen that there is a pattern that is parallel with each other. It can be seen that most of the challenges and error come from the personnel or the squad members of the elite firefighting squad itself. The core of it comes from the members themselves which is no surprise as they are humans themselves and mistakes are bound to happened. But with such responsibilities and burden, there should not be any margin of error as lives are depending on it, which seems like a daunting task and that is why only selected individuals can work under such pressure, at the same time producing quality and good work performance.

5.0. Suggestions

In every problem or challenges, there are always solutions and ways to solved it. As for the problems stated in the challenges faced by the firefighter at Seremban 2 station, there are some suggestions that I felt can be implemented in solving the problem.

My first suggestion is in regards to the situational factors that affect the performance of the squad members is by creating more programs and activities that help to release their workload. As squad members of the elite squad are human beings that have no power over things that happen to them, they are surely to be affected by burdens and their problem which can be solved through giving motivational talks and therapy session. Though some have already been implemented, but some problem cannot be solved easily and I think that the upper management should take action such in terms of helping the members financially and emotionally such as creating kiosk to sell burgers which have been done at Sri Andalas Fire Station, joining school festivals and also helps more volunteering activities. Indirectly, it can benefit the people to know their firefighters more by, but also release the stress of the fire fighters and put their mind off work for a while. Though it is out of their job scope, it can really help them in a way that they can help the society at the same time, help them. But, all of the activities must be made systematically without disrupting their line of work and reduce the manpower needed for an operation as their strength in numbers

One of the suggestion is in terms of creating an internal organization or body that supervise and control quality program at Seremban 2 fire station. After the interview, we realize that there is no body that governs or facilitate quality program at the fire station. There are selected individuals that handles the quality programs at the fire station but quality program requires tremendous effort and cooperation with each other. With a quality body to facilitate all of it through, it can handle and also make quality programs even better. It will be more systematic as the body will be the one to provide training, to dish out punishment for various problem which includes the problem of not recording the documents, not following orders on quality programs. Furthermore, this body will act as the one to provide rewards and incentive for the members. Before this, the headquarters provide rewards for excellence in quality but it does not comment on the quality of individuals. It only recognizes quality excellence of the station not the members. This step will surely motivate the workers to work for quality excellence in their work. By giving the steering group or council the authority to intervene it will become easier to control and make sure that quality is pursued and achieved in the whole organization. Trying to implement a quality management alongside the everyday operations can be a time consuming and overwhelming task for managers and it is therefore we recommend to create a steering group or body that can devote full attention to the preparation work and the implementation of the key element in total quality management and also the future control and development of it.

Besides that, is in regards of failure in following procedures. Procedures are the things needed to be followed as they are the one that keep things intact and proper in order. As it is really important, I think that the problem can be solved through provide specific training and education on the quality in order to give the realization and educates the members on the importance of handling government asset. They had to realize that they are handling public goods that are in need of proper care and supervision as the equipment came from the government in hopes that in can be of better service to the public through the expertise of the elite firefighters. For those who forget, they can still be pardoned but for those who do it on purpose should be dished out and given harsh punishment in order to give the idea that it is very important for the sake of everyone. Scholar Dale presents that in order for the implementation to be efficient and effective, an environment where employees and managers are motivated and determined to achieve the goals must be created. It could be complex and wide-ranged to try and integrate the philosophy of total quality management however it requires a great deal of management attention and control. (Dale, 2007).

The third suggestion is that I propose that the cost and budget for quality program are added more than it is. Budget are very important as it is the money that funded the implementation of the quality program. Based on our interview, we found out that the fire station at Seremban 2 is funded well but as we know, everything is very costly. It is not the implementation of quality program that is expensive, but rather on the process of sustaining the quality program as in the fire station. Therefore it is vital for the upper management to recognize and control