What principle emphasizes customer satisfaction in TQM?

The principle that emphasizes customer satisfaction in Total Quality Management (TQM) is the Customer Focus Principle. This principle underscores that understanding and meeting customer needs and expectations is vital for achieving quality. In TQM, the customer is viewed as the ultimate judge of quality, and therefore, all processes, improvements, and initiatives are centered around delivering value and satisfaction to the customer.

Customer satisfaction is not simply a goal but a comprehensive approach that requires organizations to actively gather customer feedback, understand their preferences, and continuously tailor products and services to enhance their experience. This focus not only drives quality improvements but also fosters long-lasting relationships with customers, leading to loyalty and repeat business.

In contrast, other principles like Quality Control, Continuous Improvement, and Employee Involvement, while important in their own rights, do not specifically prioritize customer satisfaction as their central tenet. Quality Control is concerned with maintaining the standards of a product or service, Continuous Improvement focuses on ongoing efforts to enhance processes, and Employee Involvement emphasizes engaging employees in quality initiatives. Each of these elements supports customer satisfaction but does not encapsulate it as directly as the Customer Focus Principle does.