Total Quality Control (TQC) is a management philosophy in which every employee, department and manager is responsible for continuously improving the quality of products and services. The ultimate goal is to match or exceed customer expectations.

How does it work?

TQC uses the well-known Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle as the basis for process management. When problems arise, statistical tools are used to identify and resolve the root cause. These methods and tools are often used during Kaizen activities and are a crucial subsystem of Lean.

Historical context

• 1957: Quality expert Armand Feigenbaum introduces the term TQC, with the vision that quality experts play a central role in implementation.
• 1980s: The concept evolves into Total Quality Management (TQM). Experts such as Philip Crosby, Joseph Juran and W. Edwards Deming expand the philosophy with new tools and, more importantly, the idea that quality is the shared responsibility of the entire company, from the shop floor to senior management.
• 1960s: Toyota embraces TQC and later rolls out the system to its suppliers, making it a fundamental pillar of the Toyota Production System.

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