Applying Quality Management Principles in R&D

The focus of this paper is on innovation, quality, and productivity. Most American enterprises do not understand the innovation process, but confuse it with the invention process. Illustrations of the application of quality management principles in R&D, concentrating on the innovation process, are given. Discussed are the implications flowing from the principle that “workers work in a system; the job of the manager is to work on the system to improve it with their help.” Also discussed are the definition of the “internal customer,” flow charting, and Quality Function Deployment.