This document provides an overview of total quality management (TQM) and its evolution. It discusses:
1) How quality practices have evolved from craftsmen and artisans who took pride in their work, to modern mass production with less individual quality control, to today's focus on quality management systems.
2) Key aspects of TQM including management commitment, customer focus, employee involvement, continuous improvement, supplier partnerships, and performance measurement.
3) Definitions of quality, including meeting standards, fitness for use, and exceeding customer expectations.
4) The benefits of quality such as increased customer satisfaction, productivity, and profits as well as the costs of poor quality.
5) Historical milestones