Over the course of time, the profession of quality engineering has witnessed significant change, from its original emphasis on quality control and inspection to a more contemporary focus on upholding quality processes throughout the organization and its product realization activities. This paper describes the profession of quality engineering, exploring how today's quality engineers and quality professionals are certified individuals committed to upholding quality processes and principles while working with different dimensions of product development. It also discusses the future of the quality engineering profession and the future of the quality movement as a whole. 5 CONTENTS

The quality movement's long history traces back to the Industrial Revolution and continues through the more modern concepts of Total Quality Management (TQM). This report provides an overview of the history of quality in industry, from its roots through its later movements, including quality inspections, the statistical quality control methods championed by W. Edwards Deming and others, and the influence of Japanese quality management on current American industrial practices. 5 CONTENTS

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The current framework for quality scholarship in the United States ranges from the training and education of future quality engineers, managers, and professionals to focused and sustained research initiatives that, through academic institutions and other organizations, aim to improve the knowledge and application of quality across a variety of sectors. Numerous quality journals also provide a forum for professional dissemination of information. 5 CONTENTS