TQM on Globalization Quality
Globalization of quality became a factor after the war but not immediately or for the better. “The period immediately after the war marked the high point of quality control for the next three decades.” (Burrill and Ledolter, 1999, pg. 28). The rest of the world was in shambles following WWII and America found opportunity in making products for the war torn countries. However, one facet that was not considered was that of quality. America had the belief that the quality of the product did not matter since they were the only country producing. “Manufacturers could sell whatever they produced at a handsome profit. Who needed quality? (Burrill and Ledolter, 1999, pg.28). Numerous factors fed the United States into believing the quality was not an issue. The war was over and high priority diminished. The world was looking to buy just about anything that could be sold. Demographics and social changes post war contributed to the lack of quality control as well.
Since the end of WWII, numerous professionals understood the urgency of total quality management. W. Edward Demings was one of the most famous and was a pioneer in the concept of quality. He was sent to Japan in 1946 by the United States Department of War to get a better understanding behind the concept of Japans agricultural quality. ”In Japan, his name is a household word because its highest quality award, the Deming Prize, established in 1951, is named in his honor to recognize his contribution to their quality efforts” (Burrill and Ledolter, 1999, pg. 42). Joseph M. Juran also played an important role in the teaching of TQM to the Japanese. He began lecturing the importance of Total Quality Management in which the business leaders began to adopt. Soon Juran ...