Integration of value analysis and total quality management: the way ahead in the next millennium

Total quality management (TQM) has been embraced by many organizations in t he last decade. It is argued that TQM can achieve its full potential by the integration of TQM and other performance improvement techniques. Value ana lysis (VA), which focuses on product's function and cost, is proposed as a potential area for cross-fertilization. This paper seeks to explore the com mon areas between VA and TOM and suggests some possible ways to apply VA wi thin the TQM process. The basic principles of TOM (customer focus continuou s improvement and teamwork) could be fully addressed by blending VA and var ious TQM tools and techniques such as quality function deployment and desig n for manufacturability. VA also serves as a mechanism which glues the TQM principles. Further work should be done to examine the possibility of integ rating TQM, VA and other performance improvement principles and tools to as sist organizations forging their competitive advantage.