Into the future: a brief analysis of quality systems of the next century

New dynamics in corporate thinking are reshaping the way we work. Corporations are becoming meaner and leaner in an effort to stay ahead of the competition. The need to maintain high quality standards will greatly increase since a quality problem anywhere along the path could lead to serious delays and cost overruns. There are three critical factors that will determine the success or failure of a company´s quality program. They are: the structure and manning of the quality organisation; the availability of critical quality data and analysis; and the development of a recognisable quality standard such as ISO-9000. The author discusses these factors with reference to total quality management regarding the last point