--- title: "Evolution of quality management" subject: "Industrial Engineering and Management" chapter: 8 key: "semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management:evolution-of-quality-management" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/evolution-of-quality-management site: BCT Engineering --- # Evolution of quality management Industrial Engineering and Management · Chapter 8: Quality Management - Asked in: year not given, 6 marks - Video: [History of Quality Management](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk16iPTjrLA) — Clint Stevenson - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/evolution-of-quality-management - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/industrial_engineering_and_management/chapter-8 ## Question Describe the evolution of quality management from inspection to Total Quality Management. ## Short answer Quality management progressed from post-production inspection to statistical quality control, quality assurance, and Total Quality Management. TQM integrates quality across all functions with customer focus and continuous improvement, shifting from detection to prevention. ## Answer Quality management has moved from detecting defects to preventing them, and from the shop floor to the whole organisation. The main stages are: #### 1. Inspection (before 1920s) Craftsmen checked their own work. With mass production (Taylor, Ford), separate inspectors sorted good from bad products after production. Defects were found, not prevented. #### 2. Statistical quality control (1920s-1950s) W. A. Shewhart (Bell Labs, 1924) introduced control charts. Dodge and Romig developed acceptance sampling. Quality was checked by sampling and statistics, which cut inspection cost. This was widely used in World War II. #### 3. Quality assurance (1950s-1970s) Quality was built into the whole system by planning and documentation. Deming and Juran taught Japanese industry; Feigenbaum introduced Total Quality Control (1951); Crosby promoted zero defects. Quality cost, reliability engineering and standards (military standards) developed. #### 4. Total quality control and quality circles (1960s-80s) Ishikawa and Japanese firms used quality circles, cause-and-effect diagrams and the seven QC tools. Taguchi added robust design. #### 5. Total quality management (1980s onward) Quality is the responsibility of everyone, focuses on the customer, and is based on continuous improvement (Kaizen), leadership, employee involvement, process management and fact-based decisions. ISO 9000 series (1987) set quality system standards; the Malcolm Baldrige Award (1987) and the EFQM model followed. Six Sigma (Motorola, 1980s) added a data-driven approach. | Stage | Focus | Approach | |---|---|---| | Inspection | Product | Detect and sort | | SQC | Process | Sampling, control charts | | Quality assurance | System | Prevent, document | | TQM | Whole organisation | Customer focus, continuous improvement | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. How did quality management evolve overall? A. From prevention to inspection B. From whole organisation to shop floor C. From detecting defects to preventing them, and from the shop floor to the whole organisation D. It did not change Answer: C. Stages ran from inspection through SQC and quality assurance to TQM. (Key point: Direction of evolution) 2. Who introduced control charts, and what did SQC achieve? A. Crosby; zero defects B. Shewhart (1924); sampling and statistics cut inspection cost C. Ishikawa; quality circles D. Taguchi; robust design Answer: B. Shewhart introduced control charts and Dodge and Romig acceptance sampling. (Key point: SQC) 3. What was the weakness of the inspection stage? A. Defects were found and sorted after production, not prevented B. It used too many statistics C. It needed customer surveys D. It used quality circles Answer: A. Separate inspectors sorted good from bad after the fact. (Key point: Inspection stage) 4. Which feature marks the TQM stage? A. Sorting by inspectors B. Sampling plans only C. Quality of product only D. Everyone responsible, customer focus and continuous improvement (Kaizen) Answer: D. TQM emerged in the 1980s along with ISO 9000 (1987), Baldrige Award and Six Sigma. 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