Tata companies operate in seven business sectors: communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy, consumer products and chemicals. They are, by and large, based in India and have significant international operations. The total revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $70.8 billion (around Rs 325,334 crore) in 2008-09, with 64.7 per cent of this coming from business outside India, and they employ around 357,000 people worldwide. The Tata name has been respected in India for 140 years for its adherence to strong values and business ethics.
Every Tata company or enterprise operates independently. Each of these companies has its own board of directors and shareholders, to whom it is answerable. There are 28 publicly listed Tata enterprises and they have a combined market capitalisation of some $60 billion, and a shareholder base of 3.5 million.
The Tata name is symbolic of a culture and set of values that have been sustained for more than a century; keeping this brand equity strong is an important aspect of the role played by Tata Quality Management Services (TQMS).
TQMS is a division of Tata Sons, the principal promoter company of the Tata Group. Its mission is to provide value to Tata companies for exponentially enhancing their performance excellence and global competitiveness. Its aim is to be a trusted partner to Tata companies in building and realising their potential to excel. It has also been given the mandate of facilitating the corporate governance, innovation and climate change initiatives within the Tata group.
The TQMS credo is defined by the same set of values that define the Tata Group: integrity and maturity, unity and understanding, learning and sharing, and passion for excellence. These values, which have been part of the Group's beliefs and convictions from its earliest days, continue to guide and drive the business decisions of Tata companies. The Group and its enterprises have been steadfast and distinctive in their adherence to business ethics and their commitment to corporate social responsibility. This is a legacy that has earned the Group the trust of many millions of stakeholders in a measure few business houses anywhere in the world can match.