The quality gurus

This article is designed for engineers who wish to learn something about the quality management experts, who have contributed to the development of present day quality techniques. These experts are often referred to as the quality gurus. This paper discusses who they are and what have we learnt from them? An examination of the common features associated with these workers in the field of quality suggests that six principles must be taken into account when considering the development of quality assurance processes in an organisation: (1) management commitment and involvement are essential and must start with the chief executive; (2) relevant measurements are necessary to determine the current position and set goals are essential; (3) the work force must be encouraged and trained in quality teamwork and problem solving; this will usually include Ishikawa´s seven basic tools; (4) system-based tools such as just-in-time (JIT) can be used to improve productivity; if these tools receive proper consideration, they can also enhance the quality as well as the volume of a product or service; (5) prevention is better than inspection; the product or system must be designed, so that the possibility of error is eliminated or (at least) greatly reduced; and (6) quality improvements should be customer-focused; both internal and external customers are of the same high importance.