Question

The definition of quality management has evolved from "quality by inspection" toward "delivering competitive advantage to the firm." Discuss the various definitions of quality management and described their applications 

Answer 1

Answer: In the 1900s, quality management primarily meant inspecting the quality of a manufactured product. Inspection was the fundamental method of monitoring quality during these years. In the 1940s, the notion of controlling rather than inspecting quality of a product came into existence. Control charts were used to monitor the production process and hence minimized the need for inspection. In the 1960s, the meaning of quality management included managing quality across the entire organization. Programs such as total quality management stretched the need for managing quality beyond manufacturing boundaries. These programs recognized the role of employees in creating a defect-free organization. In recent years, the meaning of quality management has evolved to include continuous improvement, competitive advantage, and customer focus. (Refer to Section 8.1 of the text to augment this answer.)