Fundamentals of Quality Control and Improvement, 4th Edition

1Introduction to Quality Control and the Total Quality System

1. 1-1 Introduction and Chapter Objectives
2. 1-2 Evolution of Quality Control
3. 1-3 Quality
4. 1-4 Quality Control
5. 1-5 Quality Assurance
6. 1-6 Quality Circles and Quality Improvement Teams
7. 1-7 Customer Needs and Market Share
8. 1-8 Benefits of Quality Control and the Total Quality System
9. 1-9 Quality and Reliability
10. 1-10 Quality Improvement
11. 1-11 Product and Service Costing
12. 1-12 Quality Costs
13. 1-13 Measuring Quality Costs
14. 1-14 Management of Quality
15. 1-15 Quality and Productivity
16. 1-16 Total Quality Environmental Management
17. Summary

1-1 Introduction and Chapter Objectives

“Dad, are we there yet?” “How much longer will it take?” “Mom, I am hungry!” “Is there an eating place nearby where we may stop and get something to eat?” It was a hot summer day around the middle of June as the family was headed for a summer vacation. With due thanks to advances in technology, the answers to these questions were at the couple's finger tips, reducing the uncertainty associated with traveling through a previously unknown place. Through the use of a smart phone that is able to download information via a global positioning system, directions to the nearly eating places were instantaneous. At the same time, estimates of the travel time provided a sense of relief. The developments of the twenty-first century and advances in quality make this possible. On the more philosophical question of “Are we there yet?” as far as quality is considered, the answer is ...