ABSTRACT
Managing for quality in the US can be traced back to the earliest days of the country. Gaining independence from England meant that the US had to establish its own manufacturing capability. Up to that time, colonists had been dependent on England for their manufactured goods. The Industrial Revolution began in Europe sometime before 1800 and came to the US shortly after the turn of the century, and it represented a major shift in technological and socioeconomic conditions during that time. To improve quality, central inspection departments were created and headed by a chief inspector. Through sampling inspection of raw materials and goods throughout the manufacturing process, the task of the inspection department was to prevent defective products from leaving the facility. Within every organization there is room for improvement. Organizations that strive to improve must set about doing so in a structured, consistent, and systemic manner.
