Evolution of Quality Management Systems, 1993 Process & Product Quality Conference Proceedings

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Over the years a variety of management systems have emerged and dominated the business world. Starting from the early "Taylorism" all the way to today’s paradigm shifts. On the quality management side the evolution has gone from regulatory-type systems, via advisory, toward integrated systems.

The quality management discipline has been strongly influenced by the world-renown quality “gurus” Juran, Deming, Crosby, Feigenbaum et al. Many approaches and quality improvement tools and techniques have been introduced over the years. Lately some formalization and structure have been added to the discipline by the introduction of quality systems, such as the IS0 9000 series and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and its parallels in Europe.

There have been many challenges and disappointments along the road regarding the implementation and practical use of all these ideas. Fortunately, we can today benefit from those experiences.

The question is whether we still are waiting for "something new," or we now are ready to learn from our experiences and can start to work applying a holistic, ecologically well-balanced and integrated approach.