Stakeholders and Quality Management

Stakeholders and Quality Management

Implementing a quality management process is the responsibility of numerous stakeholders. Each has a precise role that influences the quality level and affects the others' performance. A process to ensure a quality product or service is advantageous for businesses of any size. Stakeholders essential to managing quality are executive management, employees, suppliers, consumers, and competitors. Global businesses, such as Starbucks Coffee Company and Costco apply a comprehensive process to manage quality.

Executive Management

The designers of quality aspirations are the executive managers of the companies. It is their responsibility to see a proposal through from initiation to completion and to reevaluate for further improvements. Higher management seeks to cover each aspect of the quality process for the end result to be a competitive product or service in its market ("Quality & Process Management", 2012). Effective upper management is crucial to the success of the Starbucks Corporation. Executive managers from each aspect of the company collaborate to form ideas and processes to find the most efficient method to achieving a high quality product (Paryani, 2011).

Employees

The significant role an employee plays in a quality management process is in the details of assembly or delivery. Consistent communication is necessary to retain commitment to quality efforts. Starbucks exemplifies the importance of employees as stakeholders in managing quality through encouraging ownership of one's work (Paryani, 2011). Recognizing that position of employees is fundamental to building a quality product and delivering exceptional service. There is a direct relationship between empowering employees with ownership and product quality. An employee who is invested in the success of the company is more compelled to put forth his or her best effort.

Suppliers

One of the initial steps in quality management is the guaranteed use of superior supplies. It is essential to building a quality product. Communication involving the company and supplier requires detailed specifications regarding acceptable items. Taking necessary steps to limit product waste and liability is creating an efficient process. Alignment between the company and supplier can make certain the foremost priority is quality.

Consumers

From the perspective of the consumer, quality is a considerable factor in purchasing a good or service. Many consumers will gladly pay above market price with the assurance of a superior product. Accordingly, Starbucks and Costco claim to rank highest in their respective markets because they cater to a customer searching for quality over cost (Paryani, 2011).