Important dates in the history of quality.

1. “ T H O S E W H O C A N N O T R E M E M B E R T H E PA S T A R E
C O N D E M N E D T O R E P E AT I T ” – G E O R G E S A N TAYA N A
HISTORY OF QUALITY
MANAGEMENT

2. 1450 BC – EGYPTIAN WALL PAINTINGS SHOWED
EVIDENCE OF MEASUREMENT AND INSPECTION.
Pyramid Stones were cut so
precise that even today it’s
impossible to get a knife
blade between blocks
Their success was due to:
 Good design
 Consistent use of well
developed building methods
and procedures
 Precise measuring devices

3. 1046BC - 256BC
“THE ZHOU DYNASTY”
Specific governmental departments were
created and given responsibility for:
Production, inventory, and product
distribution (supply chain management)
Production and manufacturing
Formulating and executing quality standards
Supervision and Inspection
Inspection at various stages by workers
themselves was important in establishing
responsibility for quality.

4. 5TH TO 15TH CENTURY
“THE MIDDLE AGES”
In Europe, the craftsperson served both as
manufacturer and inspector.
Craft guilds emerged to ensure craftspeople
were adequately trained. They consisted of
the following:
Masters
Journeymen
Apprentices
Every effort was made to ensure that
quality was built into products by the
People who produced them.

5. 1760 - 1840
“THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION”
In 1798, the new U.S. government awarded
Eli Whitley a two-year contract to supply
10,000 muskets to its armed forces.
There was an underestimation in the effect
of variation in production processes.
Because of that, Whitney needed more than
10 years to complete the project.
Mid-18th century, French gunsmith (Honoré Blanc) developed a system
for manufacturing muskets to a standard pattern using interchangeable
parts.
Thomas Jefferson brought the idea to America.

6. 1870 - 1914
“THE SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION”
1910 - Frederick W. Taylor introduced the principles of
Scientific Management
Managers & Engineers – task of planning
Supervisors & Workers – task of execution
Quality Assurance - inspectors
Manufacturers could ship good quality products but at great
costs. Plants employed 100’s to 1000’s of inspectors. This
was the primary means of Quality Control.

7. THE EARLY 1900’S
THE SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
1920 - Walter Shewhard, ushered
in the era of Statistical Quality
Control (SPC) and the use of
control charts. Little use of SPC
was made until 1940.
Henry Ford, Sr. – developed fundamentals we now call “total quality
practices,” but wasn’t discovered until Ford executives visited Japan in
1982 to study Japanese management practices.
In the 1920’s, employees of Western Electric’s inspection department
were transferred to Bell Telephone Laboratories where duties included
the development of new theories and methods of inspection for
improving and maintaining quality.

8. 1940 - 1950
Statistical quality control became widely known and gradually adopted
throughout manufacturing industries.
1944 – The First professional journal, Industrial Quality Control was
published.
1946 - The American Society for Quality Control (now called American
Society for Quality) was founded to develop, promote, and apply quality
concepts.
Top management showed little
interest in quality improvement or
the prevention of defects and
errors, instead they relied on mass
inspection.

9. 1950’S
POST WORLD WAR II
Top managers supported integrated quality throughout their organizations
and developed the culture of continuous improvement. (referred to by the
Japanese term Kaizen).
In 1951 the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers instituted the
Deming Prize to reward individuals and organizations who meet stringent
criteria for quality management practice.
In the 1950’s, Armand Feigenbaum recognized
the importance of a comprehensive
organizational approach to quality.
Joseph Juran and Dr. W. Edwards Deming
introduced statistical quality control techniques
to the Japanese to aid them in their rebuilding
efforts.

10. 1960’S
Kauro Ishikawa – Introduced the Seven Tools of Quality
Control and Quality Circles.
He is best known outside Japan for the Ishikawa or cause
and effect diagram (fishbone diagram).

11. 1970 - 1980
Because of higher quality levels, Japanese products started
to exceed that of Western manufacturers. And in a few short
years, the Japanese made major inroads into a market
previously dominated by American Companies.
1979 – Philip Crosby published
the book, “Quality is Free.”

12. 1980’S
THE U.S. QUALITY REVOLUTION
The 1980’s was a period of change and
growing awareness of quality.
Government safety regulations,
product recalls, and the rapid
increase in product liability
judgments changed society’s
attitude.
“Let the buyer beware” changed to
“let the producer beware.”
“Nothing concentrates a man’s mind so wonderfully as the prospect
of being hanged in the morning.” – Dr. Samuel Johnson

13. 1980
In 1980 – NBC televised a program, “If Japan
Can…Why Can’t We?” It revealed Deming’s key role
in the development of Japanese Quality.
From then on, Quality was recognized as a key to
worldwide competitiveness.

14. 1981 - 1990
 1984 – The U.S. government designated October as
National Quality Month
 1985 – NASA announced an Excellence Award for Quality
and Productivity
 1986 – Motorola introduced the concept, Six Sigma.
 1987 –International Organization for Standardization
issued the 1st issue of ISO 9000
 1988 – NIST introduced the Malcom Baldridge National
Quality(MBNQ) Award and President Reagan established
the Federal Quality Prototype Award and the President’s
Award for governmental agencies
 1989 – Florida Power & Light was the 1st non-Japanese
company to be awarded the Deming Prize for quality

15. 1991 - 2015
1991 – The EFQM (European Foundation for Quality
Management) is founded to recognize industry
leaders for their success in turning strategy into
action and continuously improving their organization's
performance.
1994 – International Organization for Standardization
issued 2nd issue of ISO 9001.
In 1999, Congress added non-profit education and
health care sectors to the Baldridge Award.
2000 - International Organization for Standardization
issued 3rd issue of ISO 9001
2008 - International Organization for Standardization
issued 4th issue of ISO 9001
2015 - International Organization for Standardization
issued 5th issue of ISO 9001