The roots of Total Quality Management (TQM) can be traced

back to early 1920s when statistical theory was first applied to product

quality control.

InspectionQuality Control and Statistical Theory Quality in Japan Total Quality Total Quality Management Quality Awards and Excellence Models Business Excellence How the BPIR can help Quality Practioners and Managers

Inspection involves measuring, examining, and testing products, process and services against specified requirements to determine conformity.

During the early years of manufacturing, inspection was used to decide whether a worker’s job or a product met the requirements; therefore, acceptable

was intended to ensure that no faulty product left the factory or workshop;

focuses on the product and the detection of problems in the product;

involves testing every item to ensure that it complies with product specifications;

is carried out at the end of the production process; and relies on specially trained inspectors.

focuses on product and the detection and control of quality problems; involves testing samples and statistically infers compliance of all products;is carried out at stages through the production process; andrelies on trained production personnel and quality control professionals.

Shewart’s work was later developed by Deming, Dodge and Roming.  However, manufacturing companies did not fully utilise these techniques until the late 1940s.

In the 1940s, Japanese products were perceived as cheep, shoddy imitations. Japanese industrial leaders recognised this problem and aimed to produce innovative high quality products