In the context of quality management, which statement best reflects TQM principles?

• A. Outsourcing to suppliers to reduce costs
• B. Involving all managers and employees to collaborate to improve performance
• C. Focusing only on final inspection
• D. Conducting quarterly audits

Answer: (B)

Total Quality Management centers on engaging everyone in the organization to work together to improve quality and performance. When all managers and employees collaborate, quality becomes a shared responsibility, processes are improved, and defects are caught and prevented across the workflow rather than just at the end. Outsourcing to reduce costs may undermine the integrated approach of TQM and doesn't guarantee involvement of the whole workforce. Focusing only on final inspection misses the preventive, process-based improvement core of TQM. Quarterly audits can support quality monitoring but do not embody the ongoing, company-wide collaboration that TQM requires.