“The relentless pursuit of perfection” was the original launch tagline for Toyota’s Lexus brand, introduced in 1989. It is not about being impossible to please; it captures a mindset of continual improvement, always refining, innovating and adding value, which is the fundamental principle behind ISO 9001 quality management. Here is where the phrase came from […]
Tag: #qualityquote
Quality Quote Often Credited to Aristotle
“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” Will Durant, summarising Aristotle, The Story of Philosophy (1926) A note on the source: the line is usually quoted as Aristotle’s, but Durant wrote it more than two thousand years later: “Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” The quality version is a later […]
Quality Quote Attributed to Henry Ford
“Quality means doing the right thing when no one is looking.” Widely attributed to Henry Ford (1863-1947), American businessman A note on the source: we have not been able to trace this line to anything Ford wrote or said, so treat the attribution as unconfirmed. Related guide: Clause 5.1 leadership and commitment, on how leaders […]
Quality Quote: “You can’t change the wind but you can adjust the sails”
“You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust the sails.” Author: many. Quote Investigator traces the history of the “adjust the sails” quote and its many versions. In the ISO 9001 context, this echoes ISO 9001 Clause 6.3, Planning of Changes: plan for changes, manage risks and continually update and improve the quality management […]
Quality Quote: “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” Often attributed to Benjamin Franklin (1706 to 1790) A note on the source: Quote Investigator looked for this line in Franklin’s writings and found no evidence that he said it. The point stands either way: a supplier chosen on price […]
Quality Quote: “If you keep cutting corners, eventually you will end up going in circles”
“If you keep cutting corners, eventually you will end up going in circles.” Author unknown #ContinualImprovement #ISO9001 #QualityConsultant #QualityQuote Related guide: Clause 8 in plain English, on controlling the work from enquiry to delivery. Related ISO services Streamline designs, audits and mentors practical ISO management systems built to certify first time, from ISO 9001 quality […]
Quality Quote: “We can change the conditions under which humans work” (James Reason)
James Reason: “We cannot change the human condition, but we can change the conditions under which humans work.” Why blaming people rarely fixes the problem.
Quality Quote: “Under conditions of complexity, checklists are required for success” (Atul Gawande)
Atul Gawande: “Under conditions of complexity, not only are checklists a help, they are required for success.” What it means for procedures and ISO systems.
Quality Quote: Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it
“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” Most likely from writer and philosopher George Santayana, who originally wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If an organisation does not have a system for managing improvement items (non-conformities, incidents, customer complaints etc) then it is only a […]
Quality Quote: An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind
Quality Quote: “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” Attributed variously to Gandhi, Louis Fischer, Henry Powell Spring and Martin Luther King. All have offered different iterations, but the principle is the same: violent retaliatory action escalates situations, leaving all parties worse off. For more information on this quote, read the […]
