Highlights the increasing pressure research managers are feeling to improve quality and reduce costs of R&D and points out that some funding agencies are looking for quality standards to impose on laboratories to help guarantee data quality. Details the difficulties the US national laboratories...

Starting with 1997 applications, both the US Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards and the Canada Awards for Excellence have undergone changes to the evaluation categories as well as to the point systems in order to increase the emphasis on business results. Over the past several years there...

Delayering has spread to the public sector with the US Army going to a team‐based structure in one of its R&D organizations. This organization has wrestled with many issues concerning team effectiveness, quality management, and customer satisfaction during this delayering process. Beginning...

Discusses the techniques used by Tracor Aerospace, award winning supplier to the US military. Features examples of control charts and graphs used at Tracor. Looks at factors such as Tracor’s route to continuous improvement. Considers elements such as leadership, strategic planning, and...

The landscape for doing business in America is marked by products liability litigation. Americans have gained a reputation for being extraordinarily litigious. While the existence of any products liability "crisis" is the subject of heated debate, the simple fact remains: potential legal...

Notes that professionals in education have learned from those in industry with regard to quality management concepts. Suggests that, with regard to quality concepts in universities, there are four main issues, including aspects such as incorporation of quality concepts in the curriculum and...

Describes the reaction of Dr. Joseph Juran, a recipient of the US National Medal of Technology, to winning the award, and his views on the relationship of quality to technology. Discusses the significance of awards and what outcomes recipients of national awards can expect. Considers how the...