Quality is Free

Philip Bayard "Phil" Crosby

If we consider Henry Ford as the Grand-daddy of Quality I would like to introduce one of the fathers of quality: Philip B. Crosby

He was an American businessman and author who contributed to management theory and quality management practices

In the late 70′s Philip Crosby's groundbreaking methodology emerged as a beacon during a pivotal era in American manufacturing. Faced with a quality crisis that threatened competitiveness against Japanese automotive and electrotechnical products, Crosby's principles, such as "Zero Defects" and "Doing It Right the First Time," became a transformative force. Many North American manufacturers adopted philosophies from his first book: "Quality is Free" by instilling a culture of precision and continuous improvement. Crosby empowered American industries to not only recover from the quality crisis but also to surpass Japanese standards. His methodologies laid the foundation for a new era of American excellence, allowing the nation's goods to compete on the global stage with a renewed commitment to superior quality.

Today his topics have become a guiding principle in the relentless pursuit of perfection in automotive parts production. Rigorous quality control measures, including advanced technologies, automated inspections, and stringent testing protocols, ensure that each part is free from defects before entering the assembly line.

He also included four major principles:

1. The definition of quality is conformance to requirements
2. The system of quality is the prevention
3. The performance standard is zero defects (relative to requirements)
4. The measurement of quality is the price of nonconformance

His belief was that an organization that establishes good quality management principles will see savings returns more than pay for the cost of the quality system. "Quality is free". It is less expensive to do it right the first time than to pay for rework and repairs.

In the symphony of automotive production, Philip Crosby's principles resonate as the enduring melody, guiding us toward a future where precision, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to quality define the very essence of our industry.