Quality in the New Age and the Body of Knowledge for Quality Engineers

With the evolution of new technologies in manufacturing and service industries, the role of quality professionals has changed to accommodate the desire to be more competitive in the global markets. Quality engineers have continuously felt the need to must adept to the new environment with the development of ways to implement quality in this new age of high technology, lean manufacturing, six sigma, total quality management and other innovative problem solving techniques. New roles for quality engineers include responsibilities for ensuring quality activities effectively, developing ways for optimized cycle time and implementing continuous improvement, and the use of emerging technologies to create value for better customer satisfaction and improved business performance. This paper highlights the evolution of quality throughout the ages and the ever-changing body of knowledge for quality engineers to accommodate new ways of conducting business and enhancing their knowledge of quality engineering and management. It also highlights the basic knowledge and skills for quality engineers to successfully understand and infuse modern quality management into such ever-changing environments.