What is an essential concept of total quality management in regard to variation?

In total quality management (TQM), the focus on variation is crucial for maintaining and improving quality. Managing variation effectively is an essential concept because it directly impacts the consistency and performance of processes. By understanding and controlling variation, organizations can ensure that their products or services meet required standards and customer expectations.

Effective management of variation involves identifying its sources and taking steps to reduce unwanted variability, thereby improving overall quality. This concept aligns with the fundamental principles of TQM, which emphasize continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

While variation is indeed part of every process and can serve as a key performance indicator when analyzing organizational performance, simply recognizing its existence does not address the need for management. Encouraging variation contradicts the TQM goal of achieving consistent quality. Therefore, effective management of variation is paramount to achieving the desired outcomes in a TQM framework.