MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY

The issue of quality in business has received a great deal of attention in recent years. The Malcolm Baldrige Award, named for the late Secretary of Commerce, is an American award given to companies who meet stringent criteria for a commitment to quality. The Baldrige Award was begun in 1987. The Deming award is given by the Japanese for commitment to quality, and was begun in the early 1950s. In both cases, quality must be demonstrated throughout the companies in question, not just stated as an overriding company principle. In the 1980s and 1990s, the business world, especially the American business community, turned its attention to quality. Large companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Motorola developed job titles such as "Director of Quality Implementation" and "Vice-President of Quality Management." This research focuses on the evolution of quality management, the approaches of two leaders in the field--Deming and Crosby--and how organizations can implement a quality strategy.

For many years in American industry, quality management did not extend beyond the Quality Control, or Quality Assurance, department. Founded in 1946, the American Society for Quality Control is composed primarily of quality control specialists who troubleshoot and test various products and services. These individuals were charged with finding errors in the products they tested. Their department was

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quality treatment of employees. This extends beyond providing standard benefits and includes providing a work environment that encourages employees to produce quality work. It may mean investing in new equipment, forming quality circles or implementing a gain-sharing plan as profits are realized from the quality program. Training programs may be implemented to help employees understand their roles within the organization, or how to implement quality as a strategy. PHILIP CROSBY In 1979, Philip Crosby began Philip Crosby Associates based on a philosophy that combined a belief in both simplicity and quality in the workplace (Brinkmoeller 1). His books, including Quality is Free and The Eternally Successful Organization, have been translated and are sold throughout the world as managers in today's global economy seek ways to implement quality programs within their organizations. Crosby's basic approach to quality is that it can be implemented without cost to the organization. This is based on the idea that the savings associated with "doing it right the first time" will eliminate any cost associated with implementing a quality program. Zero defects is Crosby's goal, and achieving that is worth some financial investment in capit
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Approximate Word count = 2286
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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