Quality Control in Japan: The Case of Fuji Xerox

Abstract

Thirty years ago Dr. W. Edwards Deming was invited to Japan to explain statistical quality control, a technique for which Japan had dire need. Hinshitsu Kanri is the Japanese translation of "quality control," but businessmen came to prefer the English acronym "QC." And now they all talk about TQC (Total Quality Control), readily acclaimed as a magic formula for success. But, though popularity tends to obscure the true nature of TQC, no magic is involved. For some, quite a number of elementary business administration techniques are glorified in TQC, while for others, TQC is highly sophisticated and therefore the domain of specialists. It is our view that TQC simply means to improve the effectiveness of whatever objectives the management has set for the company; it achives these objectives in the most efficient way possible.