Housing Giants - July 24, 2008 - (Page 9)

Viewpoint this. The rescue package Congress is likely to approve and send back to the President for signature into law by the end of the week simply makes it crystal clear. The Federal Reserve is also opening its discount window to the two companies “to promote the availability of home mortgage credit during a period of stress in financial markets.” Giving the Fed a role in oversight of the companies is seen as yet another way to mollify nervous financial markets. But access to short-term borrowing through the Fed’s discount window is likely to be a temporary measure that will end once the Congressional rescue bill reaches the President’s desk. When that happens, we can go back to worrying about all the other crises this housing crash has heaped upon us. More on TQM and The housing sluMp Back in the early 1990s, F. Gary Lewis was director of quality programs for the NAHB Research Center, and he and I worked together to develop the National Housing Quality award co-sponsored by the Research Center and Professional Builder magazine. He certainly qualifies as a keen observer of the TQM movement in the housing industry, even though he has long since moved on to a position as marketing director for Tilson Home Corp. in Texas. So it was interesting indeed that he sent me an e-mail response to my blog about Fletcher Groves’ ruminations on the possibility that this housing slump could kill the quality process control movement in the housing industry. Gary says it’s a bit early to herald a death knell for TQM, although he acknowledges it’s hard to keep your eye on small improvements in business processes when survival of the company hangs in the balance every day. Still, Gary thinks this may change when competition, rather than survival, is once again the issue of the day. “Every builder’s ability to understand, replicate and constantly improve the way they sell and build houses will move much higher on their ‘hierarchy of needs,’” he reasons. I hope he’s right, but do you notice that his title is not “quality control director” — Gary’s into marketing homes these days, as we all should be. Selling houses is priority one! HG Read more from Bill Lurz on his blog, Ear to the Ground. www.housinggianTs.coM 7.24.08.housing gianTs http://www.housingzone.com/blog/1360000536.html http://www.housinggiants.com

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Housing Giants - July 24, 2008 Contents Viewpoint News & Moves Process Critical Management Series: Part II

Housing Giants - July 24, 2008

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