Quality Evolution

(Historically & Concurrent)

The “Quality” as a concept is very old since the evolution of the humankind. All kinds of development in the human life from start to the end are kinds of “Quality” aimed to up-grade and progress human life. However, quality took over the history numerous taxonomies, such as perfection, excellence, and supreme. Therefore, it is very difficult to identify a historical start for quality, but there is a very important period where there was a start to have wide spread of quality concept in the business field. This concept showed developed stages from that time until now.  This period started by what knew as “the industrial revolution” during the middle of nineteenth century. In the coming part, there will be brief description of quality evolution from 1850 till the new millennium:

– Quality Control: is the first quality concept that evolved and commonly used in industry in the second half of 19^th century (1850s). It meant that quality is all about inspection of the final product to ensure the compliance with requirement. This concept is still in use until now but with more broad meaning due to inclusion of service business and information within the scope of quality. The quality control now means any measurement done in the industrial, service and information businesses. However, the quality control/measurement consists of four steps. First is establishment of standards/targets. Second is measuring the actual performance/ product. Third is comparison between the actual and the standards. Fourth is the correction to close the gap between both of them or sustainability of comparing if there is no gaps found.

– Quality Assurance: is the second evolution of quality concept commonly used in the middle of the 20^th century (1950s) where the focus was on inspection of the processes to ensure the compliance with the requirement and so this assured that the inspection of the final product complies with the requirement. This concept is still in use until now but with broader meaning because of the inclusion of services and information businesses. This concept means that the quality control/measurement applies only for the sake of compliance with the standards no more no less. This is the era of accreditation and certifications.

– Quality Management: Third evolution of quality concepts during the 70^th of the previous decade where the focus of quality was on the customers and their requirement. This was in addition to the inspections of the processes and the final product. This happened due to inclusion of the services and information businesses. This quality concept known as “Quality management/ improvement” focuses on specific objectives.

– Quality Integrated Perspective:  With the advance of medical technology and the escalating cost of quality of healthcare services, the last evolution of quality concept integrates three basic management concepts. Quality management is about high performance. Risk management is about provision of care in a safe environment aiming for no harm to patients, providers and community. Utilization management is about best utilization of available resources aiming for cost-effectiveness and cost-benefits of healthcare services.