Original Date: 01/24/1994
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Harris Semiconductor has successfully incorporated TQM tools and philosophy into essentially every level of the company. This has been an evolutionary process with a key turning point occurring in 1987 when Harris Semiconductor began including quality planning in its company-level strategic plan. The basic Harris TQM philosophy is that quality must show an improvement at the bottom line and therefore must be planned for at the strategic level. Weekly, senior executive staff meetings include discussions of quality measures, successes and failures, and provide goal setting for improvement.

The basic operating principles that came from the implementation of TQM at Harris included: maintaining customer focus (both internal and external) at all times; seeking continuous improvement of both products and management processes as a primary business objective; employee involvement; developing a shared commitment to excellence with Harris Semiconductor suppliers; and retaining integrity. These principles are carried out in the TQM approach or model beginning with assessment, leading to education, focusing on issues of real importance to the success of the company, moving on to the planning and alignment of employee/process operation to fulfill quality goals, and finally resulting in the execution of the process that results in improved performance.

At Harris Semiconductor, the TQM methodology is implemented at the highest level of the company through a Steering Committee whose mission is to develop and implement a TQM Approach/Strategy for the division; provide direction and guidance regarding organizational priorities/areas requiring focused improvement; and support improvement efforts/activities by providing structure, resources, training, encouragement and recognition.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.