Kaoru Ishikawa- Developing a specifically Japanese quality strategy

The career of Kaoru Ishikawa in some ways parallels the economic history of contemporary Japan. Ishikawa, like Japan as a whole, learned the basics of statistical quality control developed by Americans. But just as Japan's economic accomplishments are not limited to imitating foreign products, so the country's quality achievements—and Ishikawa's in particular—go well beyond the efficient application of imported ideas.
Perhaps Ishikawa's most important contribution has been his key role in the development of a specifically Japanese quality strategy. The hallmark of the Japanese approach is broad involvement in quality, not only top to bottom within the organization, but also start to finish in the product life cycle.

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