Six Sigma foundations, who had taken the onus to increase the awareness of quality in the earlier era, what was their contribution? What were the foundations of Six Sigma? We will get answers to these questions in this chapter. Let's look at the contributions of each of the quality guru, starting with Philip Crosby, Phil Crosby 1928 to 2001. He was known for his contribution on senior management involvement for absolutes of quality management, and quality cost measurements. He was the vice president of international Telephone and Telegraph ITT for 14 years.

In 1979, he founded Philip Crosby associates incorporated in Winter Park Florida, Mr. Crosby consulted, spoke and wrote about strategy quality issues throughout his professional life. His four absolutes of quality management included quality means conformance to requirements. The requirements are what the customer says they are, there is a need to emphasize a do it right the first time attitude. Quality comes from prevention opportunities are available to correct problems in the system. The quality conformance standard is zero defect, one must insist on zero defects. Otherwise it is acceptable to send out non conforming parts and goods.

If there is a non conformance, then action must be taken to eliminate it and prevent it from occurring again. Quality measurement is the price of non conformance. a measurement of quality is needed to get management's attention, prioritize problems, correct problems and to measure progress. The four absolutes of quality management are basic requirements for understanding the purpose of a quality system.