Introduction In a competitive market, companies' ability to achieve efficiency through product or process improvements provides the edge to gain market share and increase profits. The need to improve efficiency has led to the study of quality management as an essential discipline for business success. “Total Quality Management” is a methodology that has key principles to outline methods to improve quality. “Six Sigma” is another methodology created with the goal of increasing efficiency and improving quality. Examining these two methodologies will show two different approaches and principles used to integrate rigorous quality measurement into a management system. TQM Modern quality management can be traced back to the early 1920s, when statistical theory was first applied to product quality control. This concept was further developed in Japan in the 1940s and 1950s and was led by “quality gurus” such as Deming, Juran and Feigenbaum (Business Performance Improvement Resources). Total quality management is the management of initiatives and procedures aimed at achieving the delivery of quality products and services. There are many different aspects of TQM and a variety of principles included in the TQM process. One of the principles is the involvement of executive management as the main driver for creating the environment to ensure success. Another principle is training employees in quality methods and concepts. Customer focus is a third principle to ensure that quality improvements lead to greater customer satisfaction. A fourth principle focuses on making quality decisions based on measurements. This allows quantification of the quality process. The principle of the method... at the heart of the paper... demonstrate the quality of processes and products. The positive aspect of both methods is the desire to internalize the concept of quality within the company's employees and maintain focus on how to provide a better final product. Each method embraces the concept that poor quality has a cost and that improving quality is worth the investment. Works Cited Antony, J. (n.d.). Better management library. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from BetterManagement.com: http://www.bettermanagement.com/library/library.aspx?l=12450&pagenumber=2Business Performance Improvement Resources. (n.d.). BPIR.com. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Total Quality Management: http://www.bpir.com/total-quality-management-bpir.com/menu-id-71.htmlMurray, M. (n.d.). Logistics/Supply Chain. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from About.com: http://logistics.about.com/od/qualityinthesupplychain/a/TQM.htm