This volume is a comprehensive introduction to the field of quality management, integrating the emerging body of knowledge in the areas of quality theory, quality assurance, and quality control. The author's practical approach provides examples, allowing readers to participate in and manage quality improvement in manufacturing, government, and service organizations.The volume examines differing perspectives on quality, quality theory, global quality and quality standards, strategic quality planning, the voice of the customer and the market, quality in product and process design, designing quality services, managing supplier quality in the supply chain, the tools of quality and implementing quality, statistically based quality improvement for variables, six sigma management and tools, implementing and validating the quality system.For quality control managers and other interested in greater quality management