John Nash and paranoid Schizophrenia Essay Example for Free

John Nash and paranoid Schizophrenia Essay Thomas Szasz once said, if you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you have schizophrenia. It is a terrible disorder that affects many people around the world. Arguably the most famous person with schizophrenia is Nobel Prize (1994) and American Mathematicians Societys Leroy P. Steel Prize for Seminal Contribution to Research (1999) winner, John Nash. Paranoid Schizophrenia can be a crippling illness. Its sufferers may not be able to determine what is real and what is not. According to Dr. Paul Ballas (2006: Internet) of the Department of Psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson University, the individual has feelings of being persecuted or plotted against. Affected individuals may have grandiose (over-the-top) delusions associated with protecting themselves from the perceived plot. The key symptoms are delusions and auditory hallucinations. Paranoid schizophrenia usually does not involve the disorganized speech and behavior that is seen in other types of schizophrenia. Patients with paranoid schizophrenia typically are tense, suspicious, guarded, and reserved. There are no physical tests being used in mainstream medicine as yet to diagnose schizophrenia. However certain tests are performed to eliminate other disorders or illnesses that have similar symptoms. Schizophrenia.com (2007: Internet) states these possible disorders include seizure disorders, metabolic disorders, thyroid dysfunction, brain tumour and drug use. Currently, there is research being performed in various Universities in the United States into new physical tests to confirm schizophrenia. They are experimenting with blood tests, special IQ tests, eye tracking, brain imaging and smell tests. It will be a few more years before the results can be confirmed. For now a Psychiatrist must diagnose a person with schizophrenia. Usually a person suffering from the disorder will exhibit positive (hallucinations), negative (poor social functioning) and cognitive (difficulty concentrating) reactions. To diagnose a person with schizophrenia, a person must display:†¢Characteristic symptoms: Two or more of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a one-month period (or less, if successfully treated)odelusionsohallucinationsodisorganized speech (e.g., frequent  derailment or incoherence; speaking in abstracts). See thought disorder. ogrossly disorganized behavior (e.g. dressing inappropriately, crying frequently) or catatonic behavioronegative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening (lack or decline in emotional response), alogia (lack or decline in speech), or avolition (lack or decline in motivation). Note: Only one of these symptoms is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patients actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other. †¢Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset. †¢Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months. This six-month period must include at least one month of symptoms (or less, if successfully treated). Additional criteria are also given that exclude the diagnosis; thus schizophrenia cannot be diagnosed if symptoms of mood disorder or pervasive developmental disorder are present, or the symptoms are the direct result of a substance (e.g., abuse of a drug, medication) or a general medical condition. (American Psychiatric Association, 2004).Statistically speaking, the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome in the long run, but here in Queensland there is only one registered Early Psychosis Centre, it is located at the University of Queensland, St Lucia campus. Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia have four, six and one centre respectively. Here in Australia there are two websites, one run by the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre in Melbourne, www.earlypsychosis.org, and http://auseinet.flinders.edu.au/index.php which is maintained by Flinders University in Adelaide. Also www.Schizophrenia.com has an online early detection test for schizophrenia that is for either family members of those  that might be affected or for individuals who are trying to understand what is happening to them. There are three stages of schizophrenia; they are acute, stabilization and residual. In the acute phase, the patient has a clear break from contact with reality usually displayed by a psychotic episode. This will usually lead to intervention and treatment. The second stage, the stabilization phase, is when the patients symptoms have been brought under control but the treatment must be continued to avoid a relapse. The residual stage, is where the patient is moderately stable and usually kept on anti-psychotic medication however relapses can occur. John Nash first began to show signs of entering the acute stage of schizophrenia in early 1959 when his wife Alicia, was pregnant. †¦as a consequence I resigned my position as a faculty member at M.I.T. and, ultimately, after spending 50 days under observation at the McLean Hospital, traveled to Europe and attempted to gain status there as a refugee (John Nash, 1994). For some time after that he would be in and out of hospitals. At times his involuntary admission to hospitals would last up to eight months. Eventually he began reject his delusions and return to mathematical research. This period of time, John Nash himself refers to as enforced rationality. He may have been thought to be the entering the Residual stage however this would turn out to be incorrect. In truth it can be said he had not completed the Stabilization period. In the late Sixties, he returned to what he described as a dream-like delusional hypothesis, however managed to avoid being admitted to hospital by behaving as normally as he could. This can be said to be his transition into the Residual stage. Although he had a slight relapse, he himself began to understand on an intellectual level that his delusions were exactly that, delusions. He is now thinking rationally and continuing to further his studies in mathematics with the hope that he can provide something useful to the field. Many people, including John Nash himself believe that his schizophrenia in one way or another actually aided his work, thinking outside the box so to speak. John Nash once said: I would not dare to say that there is a direct  relation between mathematics and madness, but there is no doubt that great mathematicians suffer from maniacal characteristics, delirium and symptoms of schizophrenia. It is suggested that the fragmented mind allows and concocts irrational ideas that can become rational solutions. Many great people with great ideas and influences have been affected by the illness. Some of those include Peter Green from Fleetwood Mac, Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, Vaclav Nijinsky the Russian dancer and Jazz musician and composer, Tom Harrell. Some people even refer to Tom Harrell as the John Forbes Nash, Jr. of Jazz. Treatment for paranoid schizophrenia and other mental disorders has changed greatly in the last Sixty years. In the early Nineteen-fifties, Chlorpromazine was developed. It was a phenothiazine antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar and as an Anti-emetic which is used for vomiting and nausea. The side affects of a phenothiazine based drug include acathisia, which is basically restlessness, tardive dyskinesia, which is a neurological disorder which affects voluntary movement that can continue after treatment has ceased, and weight gain (Wikipedia, 2007). The use of Chlorpromazine has been discontinued however John Nash would almost certainly been treated with it. He was also exposed to insulin shock therapy. This was a method used to induce a coma. He stopped taking drugs in 1970 and recovered slowly without them over the next twenty. According to the World Health Organization, the long term outcomes of schizophrenia are far worse in United States than they are in countries such as India and Nigeria where antipsychotic medication is not as readily available. There is more. In 1987, psychologist Courtenay Harding reported that a third of chronic schizophrenia patients released from Vermont State Hospital in the late 1950s completely recovered. Everyone in this best-outcomes group shared one common factor: All had weaned themselves from antipsychotic medications. The notion that schizophrenics must spend a lifetime on these drugs, she concluded, is a myth (Whitaker, 2002). In 1994, Harvard Medical School researchers found that the outcomes for U.S. schizophrenia patients are no better now than they were about one hundred years ago when they would simply put patients into bathtubs for hours on end. There has also been  reasonable success in Finland where doctors have used counselling, community support and little or no antipsychotic medication. John Nashs recovery is nothing short of remarkable but many people say that his constant occupation with mathematics and the support or rather that he was allowed relative freedom at Princeton aided his recovery without medication. There is has been a shift in mentality towards the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. A growing wave of professionals are starting accept that there is merit to the at least partial abandonment of antipsychotic drugs. John Nash may be the figurehead for the movement, but more conclusive research is needed to detect whether the disuse of anti-psychotic is subjective to select patients or can be applied to a more widespread group of sufferers of this mental disorder. Bibliography American Psychiatric Association, 2004, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR (Text Revision). American Psychiatric Association. ISBN 0890420246. DSM-IV DSM-IV-TR Schizophrenia criteriaBallas, Paul, 2006, Schizophrenia, (online), available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000936.htm, [6 September 2007]Gulli, L.F., 2007, Schizophrenia, (online), available from: http://www.answers.com/topic/schizophrenia?cat=health, [6 September 2007]. Nash, John, 2004, Autobiography, (online) available from: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/1994/nash-autobio.html [6 September 2007]. Schizophrenia Symptoms and Diagnosis, 2004, (online), available from: http://schizophrenia.com/diag.php#diagnosis, [6 September 2007]. Whitaker, R, 2002, Recovery without Drugs, (online), available from: http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/February02/JohnNashDrugFreeRecovery.htm[6 September 2007]. Wikipedia, 2007, Schizophrenia, (online), available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia, [6 September2007].

A Heartfelt, Emotional Wedding Speech for a Maid of Honor or Best Woman

A Heartfelt, Emotional Wedding Speech for a Maid of Honor or Best Woman Good Evening! For those of you who don?t know me, I?m Charlotte, the very proud sister of our glamorous Bride. I want to start by congratulating Kari and Ernest, and thanking all of you for coming here today. When I look at the bride and groom, I feel such a kaleidoscope of emotions. I know that Kari has found her true match and I know that theirs will be a marriage of long standing. My heart is bursting with love for you two today. I know you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you, and with God?s blessing your marriage will last for decades to come. I never knew Ernest before he dated my sister, so I can?t tell you horrible stories about him, but I can tell you that I think he?s perfect for my sister! He?s easy going, interesting, easy to talk to, and he has a great sense of humor! We are very happy to welcome Ernest into our family. We know he?s made for us, and we hope we?re made for him! Kari, I want to note how beautiful you look today, and to tell you that this has truly been a special day for me. Thank you for giving true meaning to the word sister and for sharing the last 28 years with me. My parents and I have just loved this girl from the day she was born. We?ve coddled her, enjoyed her, and laughed with her. I know how much joy she has brought into our lives, and I know that she?ll bring that joy into Ernest?s life... ...eatest wish for the two of you is that through the years, your love for each other will deepen and grow. Years from now, may you look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least. I wish you the very best. My love to the both of you. Please raise your glasses while I toast my sister and her husband: Kari and Ernest:Take each day and cherish your time together. Love one another and stand together. Take time to talk to one another. Put your love and your family first; your job and your hobbies second. May your love be like the wind, strong enough to move the clouds, soft enough to never hurt, but always never ending. To love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers! A Heartfelt, Emotional Wedding Speech for a Maid of Honor or Best Woman A Heartfelt, Emotional Wedding Speech for a Maid of Honor or Best Woman Good Evening! For those of you who don?t know me, I?m Charlotte, the very proud sister of our glamorous Bride. I want to start by congratulating Kari and Ernest, and thanking all of you for coming here today. When I look at the bride and groom, I feel such a kaleidoscope of emotions. I know that Kari has found her true match and I know that theirs will be a marriage of long standing. My heart is bursting with love for you two today. I know you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you, and with God?s blessing your marriage will last for decades to come. I never knew Ernest before he dated my sister, so I can?t tell you horrible stories about him, but I can tell you that I think he?s perfect for my sister! He?s easy going, interesting, easy to talk to, and he has a great sense of humor! We are very happy to welcome Ernest into our family. We know he?s made for us, and we hope we?re made for him! Kari, I want to note how beautiful you look today, and to tell you that this has truly been a special day for me. Thank you for giving true meaning to the word sister and for sharing the last 28 years with me. My parents and I have just loved this girl from the day she was born. We?ve coddled her, enjoyed her, and laughed with her. I know how much joy she has brought into our lives, and I know that she?ll bring that joy into Ernest?s life... ...eatest wish for the two of you is that through the years, your love for each other will deepen and grow. Years from now, may you look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least. I wish you the very best. My love to the both of you. Please raise your glasses while I toast my sister and her husband: Kari and Ernest:Take each day and cherish your time together. Love one another and stand together. Take time to talk to one another. Put your love and your family first; your job and your hobbies second. May your love be like the wind, strong enough to move the clouds, soft enough to never hurt, but always never ending. To love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers!

Brave New World.

The Ideal Women Brave New World is a fantasy of the future that sheds a blazing critical light on the present. Huxley says â€Å"Community, Identity, Stability† is the motto of this utopian World State, the motto of this utopia is the opposite of how this world really exists. Huxley’s description of the new world is a dystopia. Lenina is a futuristic model of the modern women. She is one of the idolized women of this dystopia. The role of women in this society is promotes promiscuity and drug use.Linda on the other hand, had a very different experience then Lenina as women of this New World. Huxley embodies the trials and tribulations that these women deal with. In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses the characters Lenina and Linda to show the role of women in this society. From the novel Brave New World Lenina is the ideal woman in this society. She conforms to the standards that are set for the women in the new world. As Lenina talks to Bernarsd, she says, â€Å"And how can you talk like that about not wanting to be a part of the social body?After all, everyone works for everybody else† (Huxley 91). This means that Lenina accepts the idea. In addition to that, Lenina does not believe in monogamy; she is very promiscuous, as every other woman is in the society; promiscuity is an accepted belief in this society. When Fanny talks to Lenina about seeing the same man for too long, she starts to lecture her about how wrong it really is: â€Å"And you know how strongly the D. H. C objects to anything intense or long drawn.Four months of Henry Foster without having another man–why he’d be furious if he knew† (Huxley 41). Lenina accepts the idea of promiscuity, which makes her the ideal women of the society; she follows by their standards. Not only does the society use promiscuity to control the population, but also promote the use of soma. One of the states mottos is â€Å"a gramme in time saves nine†. This means that they promote the use of a dangerous drug called soma (Huxley 89).Lenina’s brain is conformed to the idea that soma is the means of living. Soma is a drug that replaces reality with happy hallucinations. Aldous Huxley shows how Lenina is a typical character, an ideal role model of the New World; she conforms to all the ideas and rules of this society. On the other hand, Linda has a different experience than Lenina. Linda was once a member of the New World, but during a visit to the reservation she hit her head and when she could not be found, she was left there.Linda’s stay on the reservation was different from the New World: â€Å"So they are having children all the time-like dogs. It’s revolting† (Huxley 122). This means that, unlike the new world, the natives believed in families and having children the traditional way, other than the new world which uses the Bokanovsky process. Natives also did not believe in promiscuity;they thought of promiscuity as revolting. As Linda states, â€Å"Well, here the other people went on, nobody’s supposed to belong to more than one person†. (Huxley 121).This is important because this statement depicts the women of the reservation are traditional, meaning sleeping around with other men is not acceptable. When Linda was caught sleeping with other men, the women were angry and cruel to Linda. Linda also was not able to take soma. Linda says, â€Å"I suppose John told you. What I had to suffer—and not a gramme of soma to be had† (Huxley 120). This means that the reservation did not use soma; it was not a desirable drug. Even though Linda was once a member of the New World, she was a savage; her experience was contrasting than Lenina’s.By using Lenina and Linda Aldous Huxley shows two different stories and experiences from two different women brought up in the same world. Lenina’s life in the new world has an altered appearance than Linda who lives in the rese rvation. Bernard describes Linda as â€Å"so fat. And all the lines in her face, the flabbiness, the wrinkles† (Huxley 119). This is important because it describes Linda’s different appearance now that she lives on the reservation, when she lived in the New World Linda had more youthful appearance, like Lenina.Linda also missed the use of Soma; hen Linda returns back to the New World, â€Å"She took as much as twenty grammes a day† Linda is again dependent on soma. Even though Linda through unfortunate events became a savage, she has the same beliefs that Lenina also has. In conclusion, Lenina and Linda are both an ideal woman of the New World, both women depict the typical woman. Even though they went through different experiences their moral, standards, and values are the same. Works Cited Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins , 1989. Print. Brave New World. The Ideal Women Brave New World is a fantasy of the future that sheds a blazing critical light on the present. Huxley says â€Å"Community, Identity, Stability† is the motto of this utopian World State, the motto of this utopia is the opposite of how this world really exists. Huxley’s description of the new world is a dystopia. Lenina is a futuristic model of the modern women. She is one of the idolized women of this dystopia. The role of women in this society is promotes promiscuity and drug use.Linda on the other hand, had a very different experience then Lenina as women of this New World. Huxley embodies the trials and tribulations that these women deal with. In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses the characters Lenina and Linda to show the role of women in this society. From the novel Brave New World Lenina is the ideal woman in this society. She conforms to the standards that are set for the women in the new world. As Lenina talks to Bernarsd, she says, â€Å"And how can you talk like that about not wanting to be a part of the social body?After all, everyone works for everybody else† (Huxley 91). This means that Lenina accepts the idea. In addition to that, Lenina does not believe in monogamy; she is very promiscuous, as every other woman is in the society; promiscuity is an accepted belief in this society. When Fanny talks to Lenina about seeing the same man for too long, she starts to lecture her about how wrong it really is: â€Å"And you know how strongly the D. H. C objects to anything intense or long drawn.Four months of Henry Foster without having another man–why he’d be furious if he knew† (Huxley 41). Lenina accepts the idea of promiscuity, which makes her the ideal women of the society; she follows by their standards. Not only does the society use promiscuity to control the population, but also promote the use of soma. One of the states mottos is â€Å"a gramme in time saves nine†. This means that they promote the use of a dangerous drug called soma (Huxley 89).Lenina’s brain is conformed to the idea that soma is the means of living. Soma is a drug that replaces reality with happy hallucinations. Aldous Huxley shows how Lenina is a typical character, an ideal role model of the New World; she conforms to all the ideas and rules of this society. On the other hand, Linda has a different experience than Lenina. Linda was once a member of the New World, but during a visit to the reservation she hit her head and when she could not be found, she was left there.Linda’s stay on the reservation was different from the New World: â€Å"So they are having children all the time-like dogs. It’s revolting† (Huxley 122). This means that, unlike the new world, the natives believed in families and having children the traditional way, other than the new world which uses the Bokanovsky process. Natives also did not believe in promiscuity;they thought of promiscuity as revolting. As Linda states, â€Å"Well, here the other people went on, nobody’s supposed to belong to more than one person†. (Huxley 121).This is important because this statement depicts the women of the reservation are traditional, meaning sleeping around with other men is not acceptable. When Linda was caught sleeping with other men, the women were angry and cruel to Linda. Linda also was not able to take soma. Linda says, â€Å"I suppose John told you. What I had to suffer—and not a gramme of soma to be had† (Huxley 120). This means that the reservation did not use soma; it was not a desirable drug. Even though Linda was once a member of the New World, she was a savage; her experience was contrasting than Lenina’s.By using Lenina and Linda Aldous Huxley shows two different stories and experiences from two different women brought up in the same world. Lenina’s life in the new world has an altered appearance than Linda who lives in the rese rvation. Bernard describes Linda as â€Å"so fat. And all the lines in her face, the flabbiness, the wrinkles† (Huxley 119). This is important because it describes Linda’s different appearance now that she lives on the reservation, when she lived in the New World Linda had more youthful appearance, like Lenina.Linda also missed the use of Soma; hen Linda returns back to the New World, â€Å"She took as much as twenty grammes a day† Linda is again dependent on soma. Even though Linda through unfortunate events became a savage, she has the same beliefs that Lenina also has. In conclusion, Lenina and Linda are both an ideal woman of the New World, both women depict the typical woman. Even though they went through different experiences their moral, standards, and values are the same. Works Cited Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperCollins , 1989. Print.

Study of Coca Colas Quality Management System - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 2893 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? Coca-Cola was founded in 1886 by pharmacist Dr John S Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. Coca-Cola Company is the worlds largest marketer, distributor and manufacturer of non-alcoholic beverage syrups and concentrate, and produces close to 400 brands. This report will describe the organisations current quality management system and how effective this is at meeting with product demands and consumer needs. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Study of Coca Colas Quality Management System" essay for you Create order Recommendations about how the system can be improved will also be outlined. Currently, the Coca-Cola Company is based in Georgia with subsidiaries all over the world with a strong product portfolio including well known brands such as, Sprite, Coke Zero, Fanta, Oasis, Abbey Well water and Powerade (Coca-Cola, 2010). Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd in Edmonton, is the local bottler responsible for the distribution, manufacturing, trade marketing and sales of the brands throughout UK, this is the system that will be discussed throughout this report. However, this system is likely to be replicated throughout the organisation both in the UK and abroad. Analysis of Coca-Cola Coca-Cola drinks come in a variety of different packaging formats including glass, aluminium cans and plastic bottles (Coca-Cola, 2010). As the company expands its supplier base and beverage portfolio to meet the increasing demands of developing and growing markets around the world, regulatory scrutiny and consumer expectations continue to rise. Coca-Cola (2010) states that the global nature of its business requires that the Coca-Cola system has the highest standards and processes to ensure consistent quality from its concentrate production to its bottling and product delivery. Coca Cola (2011) states that to ensure such consistency and reliability, the Coca-Cola system is governed by the Coca-Cola Operating Requirements (KORE). This system enables Coca-Cola to address growth plans by creating an integrated quality management program which holds all operations to the same standards of production and distribution of beverages. The current management system, KORE, aims to ac hieve the highest standards in product quality, health and safety and environmental standards at Coca Cola. The Quality Management system It is very important that each product that Coca Cola produces is of a high quality standard to ensure that each product is exactly the same. This is important as the company wants to meet with customer requirements and expectations. With the brand having such a global presence, it is vital that these checks are continually consistent. The standardised bottle of Coca Cola has elements that need to be checked whilst on the production line to make sure that a high quality is being met. The most common checks include ingredients, packaging and distribution. Much of the testing being taken place is during the production process, as machines and a small team of employees monitor progress. It is the responsibility of all of Coca Colas staff to check quality from hygiene operators to product and packaging quality. This shows that these constant checks require staff to be on the lookout for problems and take responsibility for this, to ensure maintained quality. Coca-cola uses inspectio n throughout its production process, especially in the testing of the Coca-Cola formula to ensure that each product meets specific requirements (Coca-Cola, 2011). Inspection is normally referred to as the sampling of a product after production in order to take corrective action to maintain the quality of products (Summers, 2009). Coca-Cola has incorporated this method into their organisational structure as it has the ability of eliminating mistakes and maintaining high quality standards, thus reducing the chance of product recall. It is also easy to implement and is cost effective. Coca-cola uses both Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) throughout its production process. QC mainly focuses on the production line itself, whereas QA focuses on its entire operations process and related functions, addressing potential problems very quickly (Summers, 2009). In QC and QA, state of the art computers check all aspects of the production process, maintaining consistency and qual ity by checking the consistency of the formula, the creation of the bottle (blowing), fill levels of each bottle, labelling of each bottle, overall increasing the speed of production and quality checks, which ensures that product demands are met (Muirhead, B. 2011). QC and QA helps reduce the risk of defective products reaching a customer; problems are found and resolved in the production process (Summers, 2009), for example, bottles that are considered to be defective are placed in a waiting area for inspection (Muirhead, B. 2011). QA also focuses on the quality of supplied goods to Coca-cola, for example sugar, which is supplied by Tate and Lyle. Coca-cola informs that they have never had a problem with their suppliers (Muirhead, B. 2011). QA can also involve the training of staff ensuring that employees understand how to operate machinery. Coca-Cola ensures that all members of staff receive training prior to their employment, so that employees can operate machinery efficiently. M achinery is also under constant maintenance, which requires highly skilled engineers to fix problems, and help Coca-cola maintain high outputs. Every bottle is also checked that it is at the correct fill level and has the correct label. This is done by a computer which every bottle passes through during the production process. Any faulty products are taken off the main production line. Should the quality control measures find any errors, the production line is frozen up to the last good check that was made. The Coca Cola bottling plant also checks the utilisation level of each production line using a scorecard system. This shows the percentage of the line that is being utilised and allows managers to increase the production levels of a line if necessary (Muirhead, B. 2011). Coca-Cola also uses Total Quality Management (TQM), which involves the management of quality at every level of the organisation, including; suppliers, production, customers etc (Summers, 2009). This al lows Coca-cola to retain/regain competitiveness to achieve increased customer satisfaction Hradesky, J. (1992). Coca-cola uses this method to continuously improve the quality of their products. Teamwork is very important and Coca-cola ensures that every member of staff is involved in the production process, meaning that each employee understands their job/roles, thus improving morale and motivation, overall increasing productivity (Summers, 2009). TQM practices can also increase customer involvement as many organisations, including Coca-Cola relish the opportunity to receive feedback and information from their consumers. Overall, reducing waste and costs, provides Coca-cola with a competitive advantage (Muirhead, B. 2011). The Production Process Before production starts on the line cleaning quality tasks are performed to rinse internal pipelines, machines and equipment. This is often performed during a switch over of lines for example, changing Coke to Diet Coke to ensure that the taste is the same. This quality check is performed for both hygiene purposes and product quality. When these checks are performed the production process can begin. Coca Cola uses a database system called Questar which enables them to perform checks on the line. For example, all materials are coded and each line is issued with a bill of materials before the process starts. This ensures that the correct materials are put on the line. This is a check that is designed to eliminate problems on the production line and is audited regularly. Without this system, product quality wouldnt be assessed at this high level. Other quality checks on the line include packaging and carbonation which is monitored by an operator who notes down the values to ensure they are meeting standards. To test product quality further lab technicians carry out over 2000 spot checks a day to ensure quality and consistency. This process can be prior to production or during production which can involve taking a sample of bottles off the production line. Quality tests include, the CO2 and sugar values, micro testing, packaging quality and cap tightness. These tests are designed so that total quality management ideas can be put forward. For example, one way in which Coca Cola has improved their production process is during the wrapping stage at the end of the line. The machine performed revolutions around the products wrapping it in plastic until the contents were secure. One initiative they adopted meant that one less revolution was needed. This idea however, did not impact on the quality of the packaging or the actual product therefore saving large amounts of money on packaging costs. This change has been beneficial to the organisation. Continuous impro vement can also be used to adhere to environmental and social principles which the company has the responsibility to abide by. Continuous Improvement methods are sometimes easy to identify but could lead to a big changes within the organisation. The idea of continuous improvement is to reveal opportunities which could change the way something is performed. Any sources of waste, scrap or rework are potential projects which can be improved. The successfulness of this system can be measured by assessing the consistency of the product quality. Coca Cola (2011) say that Our Companys Global Product Quality Index rating has consistently reached averages near 94 since 2007, with a 94.3 in 2010, while our Company Global Package Quality Index has steadily increased since 2007 to a 92.6 rating in 2010, our highest value to date. This is an obvious indication this quality system is working well throughout the organisation. This increase of the index shows that the consistency of the products is being recognised by consumers. Customer Satisfaction Coca-Cola controls its customer satisfaction by having a code on the bottles it produces. This means that if there is a fault, then that code can by entered into the Coca-Cola database and they can find out what plant it was produced at and where it was distributed to. This helps customer satisfaction because if there is a faulty group of Coke bottles then they can be recalled before any other customers find problems with a particular batch of Coke products. They also have an OTIF rating system for distributors (OTIF stands for on time in full) (Muirhead, B. 2011). External customers, such as distributors can rate Coca-Colas delivery based on, if it was on time and the full stock was delivered. Coca Cola also use mystery shoppers to examine the quality of the products and how satisfied customers are with those products (Muirhead, B. 2011). Corporate Social Responsibility As part of the quality system, factors such as corporate social responsibility are important as many organisations have a number of roles and responsibilities that they must adhere to, to ensure they provide high levels of quality and customer satisfaction. A large organisation, such as Coca-cola will normally compile a document stating the companys Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). A CSR is integrated into the business model, which helps to self regulate a company. The CSR must comply with law, ethical standards and international norms (Crane, A. et al. 2009). Coca-colas responsibilities include; beverage benefits, active healthy living, community, Energy and climate, sustainable packaging, water stewardship and workplace (coca-cola, 2011). Overall, Coca-cola takes quality very seriously, and ensures that the company meets the requirements and consumer expectations in the market place. Coca Cola have considered the need to meet with environmental standards in both t heir product design and the production process. These standards were implemented in the production area we witnessed firsthand. These implications are important factors during the design and development of new products, packaging, production processes and factory facilities. Coca Cola abide by the ISO14001 guideline in order to implement, maintain and improve an environmental management system (The ISO 14000 Environmental Management Guide) (Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, 2011). One of the main environmental initiatives taken up by Coca Cola was Water Stewardship in which the company aims to improve their water efficiency by 20% by 2012. Water is used by Coca Cola for production processes such as cleaning, heating and cooling. The overall aim of these factors is to minimize the cost of producing new and existing packaging without compromising the product. However, at the Edmonton factory was struggling to meet with this level of stewardship at present. The Times 100, (2010) st ates that taking action on the conviction that education is the key to changing behaviours and attitudes, Coca-Cola supports a large number of litter prevention organisations around the world, such as the Tidy Britain Group and Coca-Cola Great Britain receive the Groups top award in 1992 in recognition of over 20 years of support. Criticisms of Coca-Cola In 1999, Coca-cola released Dasani bottled water onto the shelves, which ended up turning into a disaster for Coca-cola and as a result was taken off the shelves. There were speculations over the quality of the water and that Coca-cola had simply filled each bottle with purified tap water. It has been stated by BBC news (2004) that the water is that of the mains supply from Coca-colas plant in Kent. This bad press put Coca-Colas brand into a bad light and raised questions over the quality provided to consumers. As stated in their CSR, Coca-cola takes its environmental policy very seriously in the UK, however, it could be considered that the company is exploiting developing countries, taking advantage of their lack of laws and regulations and corrupt governments. The Guardian (2006) reported that Coca-cola had been accused of polluting a lagoon in Africa, by pumping untreated waste into the water and killing fish. Despite Coca-Colas clear statement in their CSR that they look to help steward the environment, they are failing to show that they can maintain environmental quality standards outside of the UK and other developed countries, which can as a result reduce consumers trust in the company. Recommendations Based on the findings of this report, it seems that Coca-Cola has an efficient and productive quality management system. However, some recommendations can be made which Coca Cola could consider in both the short and long term. The Coca-Cola Company has high uncertainty about the usage of raw materials, which is used to create their products. This may not be an issue at present but with raw material supplies becoming increasingly scarce there could be pressure to use more recyclable materials. The company faces criticism of health and safety and packaging obligations, which can affect the social image of the company. Therefore, the use of continuous improvement is significant concept within the quality management system and the business should look to find the most recyclable packaging available. Although this could help reduce their carbon footprint, different materials may affect the quality of products and the cost of production. This is something that would need to be considered by the company. This may not be the best option financially in the short term but could boost social image in the long term. Conclusion The educational visit to Coca Cola Enterprises and the research conducted via other sources suggest that the company has a very efficient and productive quality management system. The global presence that Coca Cola has means that its quality system needs to maintain a high level of consistent products which meets the standards expected by its consumers worldwide. Research shows that the system in place enables Coca Cola to measure all parts of the production process with large success. This is reflected in the Companys Global Product Quality Index rating which has consistently reached 94%. The effectiveness of this system allows for the organisation to profit by creating various distribution centres all over the world, applying the same quality principles. Without this quality system in place, Coca Cola may have found it tougher to penetrate international locations. One important aspect to Coca Cola is their brand image and this quality system does its best to promote this image pr oviding checks throughout the production process. Other ways in which Coca Cola tries to increase its social standing is by adopting sustainable approaches to environmental initiatives. These factors are important to maintaining quality in the design and development of new products, packaging, production processes and factory facilities. The water stewardship scheme is an example of this. However, the recommendations suggested provide Coca Cola with some areas to consider. Environmental and social factors which are likely to influence the quality system are the most important recommendations. Continuous improvement throughout the organisation could offer some ideas about these issues which could maintain or improve upon the current product quality index rating. Nonetheless the current system in place seems to be extremely effective and allows Coca Cola to distribute its products on a global scale producing consistently high products with rare cases of defection. It is clear that the system has gone through various transformations that have improved the way in which quality is managed and without these changes, customer demand would struggle to be achieved. References BBC News (2004) Soft drink is purified tap water (?online?) Available at: https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3523303.stm (?Accessed on 20th March 2011?) Coca-Cola (2010) Introduction to our business. (Online) Available at: https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/about-us/introducing-our-business.html (Accessed:13th March, 2011) Coke Education (2009) Coke Education Production Video Accessed 16th March 2011 (online) at: https://www.cokeeducation.co.uk/resources.html Coca Cola eKOsystem (2002) https://www.thecocacolacompany.com/citizenship/eKOsystem.pdf (Assessed 18th March 2011) Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (2011) Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (online) Available at: https://www.cokecce.co.uk/corporate-responsibility.aspx (Accessed on: 21st March 2011) Guardian (2006) Has Coke become the new  McDonalds (online) Available at: https://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/aug/18/marketingandpr.business (Accessed on 20th March 2011) ISO 14001 Environmental Management (20 02) https://www.iso14000-iso14001-environmental-management.com/iso14001.htm (Assessed 18th March 2011) Muirhead, B (2011) Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd. Edmonton. In Communitcation. February 22nd 2011 The Times 100 (2010) Examples of environmental initiatives. (Online) Available at: https://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studycorporate-citizenship-and-the-community3-81-11.php (Accessed: 17th March, 2011) The Coca Cola Company-Quality (2011) https://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/quality.html (Assessed 18th March 2011)