In a more leisurely age, the craftsmen themselves would ensure the quality of a product they produced. Any loss of quality would be a loss of brand value (their ‘good name’), and may result in financial loss. As production became more automated and specialized so that each became responsible for only a tiny part of the process, the responsibility for ensuring quality fell on the institution. Quality management rose as a management subdomain to fulfill the needs of quality control at a time when production processes are getting increasingly complex involving a lot of people. In other words, Quality Management is the systematic way of ensuring that all the steps required to design, develop and implement a project, product or service are carried out so as to meet all quality requirements.

At a time when new products reach the market at an astonishing rate, the only way to retain customer base and attract new customers is through a commitment towards quality. As some products cater to the premium segment, quality becomes the primary arbiter of the value of a product, and quality management is very essential. Today, many credible certifiers provide quality assurances in the form of certifications (like the ISO certifications) that vouch for the quality of the product and the safety or conformity of the production process or content. Some industry or governmental certifiers too provide certifications for some specific types of products, like safety gadgets, laser products, etc.

Quality Management is an essential process that guarantees customer satisfaction, which translates into healthier bottom-line. Many companies and firms are incorporating quality management principles and processes to ensure better quality products and services. In this section of 01webdirectory we provide links to various related resources.