History of Continuous Improvement & Quality Gurus:

Here are two videos discussing the history of continuous improvement. Gurus include Deming, Juran Crosby, Ohno, Pareto and many more.

Part 1

Part 2

History of Continuous Improvement

The concept of continuous improvement, also known as kaizen, has a long history that can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The idea of constantly seeking ways to improve processes, products, and systems has been a central theme in the development of many civilizations and has been embraced by a wide range of industries and organizations.

One of the earliest known examples of continuous improvement is the concept of craft guilds, which were organizations of skilled craftsmen that emerged in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. These guilds promoted the idea of continuous learning and improvement, and they established standards and practices that helped to ensure the quality of their work.

The modern concept of continuous improvement can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the development of scientific management principles by Frederick Winslow Taylor and the introduction of statistical quality control by Walter Shewhart. These principles and methods were later embraced and developed further by Japanese manufacturers, leading to the development of the kaizen philosophy and the Toyota Production System.

Today, the concept of continuous improvement is widely embraced by a range of industries and organizations, and it is seen as a key driver of efficiency, quality, and competitiveness.

Quality Quotes from the Gurus

“For many phenomena, 80% of consequences stem from 20% of the causes.” ~Joseph M. Juran
“Quality is everyone’s responsibility.” ~W. Edwards Deming
“Original data should be presented in a way that will preserve the evidence in the original data for all the predictions assumed to be useful.” ~Walter A. Shewhart
“You can’t do kaizen just once or twice and expect immediate results. You have to be in it for the long haul.” ~Masaaki Imai
“There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: make the best quality goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible.” ~Henry Ford
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~Thomas Edison
“Quality is free. It’s not a gift, but it’s free. The unquality things are what cost money.” ~Philip Crosby
“A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it.” ~Chinese proverb
“Why not make the work easier and more interesting so that people do not have to sweat?” ~Taiichi Ohno, father of the Toyota Production System.
“Without a standard there is no logical basis for making a decision or taking action.” ~Joseph M. Juran
“Unless people’s motion add value they are useless toward the goal.” ~ Shigeo Shingo
“The first step is to learn how to change.” ~W. Edward Deming