Total quality management and an application in a Türkish infantry battalion

Abstract

This study presents a brief summary of total quality management, its history and its tools; offers an overview of a process improvement procedure by U.S. Department of Defense; and a sample process improvement application in nutrition system of a Turkish Infantry battalion. The main purpose of the study is to show the advantages of using Total Quality Management tools in military processes. For this purpose, a quality improvement team established in a Turkish Infantry Battalion, consisting of 9 enlisted soldiers and a lieutenant, improved the nutrition system by using seven tools of the Total Quality Management. Project related with contracting nutrition system to a civilian catering firm -which is also in trial period in some of Turkish Army Units - is benchmarked cooperatively.