Quality Is Free by Philip B Crosby, 0070145563, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Getting dated but a classic 'must read'

This book tells you about one of the most underused tools in the QA Manager's box of tricks - the Cost of Quality. Read this book with a view to understand this principle and Crosby gives some invaluable guidance on how to go about a Cost of Quality Initiative.

I have gone into job interviews with this trick up my sleeve when asking for a greater salary than they were offering and it opens peoples eyes.

Yes, it's dated and yes you need to take some of the definitions and bring them up to date. As with anything you should read many sources and take nothing as gospel.

A classic that at such a low cost now is a crime not to own. When folks see Quality is Free it sure prompts some interesting conversations too :)

Philip Crosbey can not read a dictionary

Lets look at three words from the Webster's Ii, New Riverside University Dictionary ISBN: 039533957X.

Quality is 1. Essential character: nature. 2 a. Inherent or distinguishing attribute. b. Degree or grade of excellence. (There are more definitions that follow this train of thought.)

Conformity is 1. Likeness in form or character

Require is 1. To have as a requisite: need

Philip Crosby is attempting to push “New Speak” 1984 , on us by usurping a word for his own purpose and negating its intended meaning. On page 15 he describes quality as “conformances to requirements” It is easy to conform to inappropriate specs. Is that quality? Is that free?

However this book is considered a classic. It was written in the days of typewriters. He refers to giving women a chance. He gets zero defects mixed up with quality. It is fun to play games with his “Maturity Grid” however too much time with it can put you out of business.

Good practical overview to Quality Management

Crosby has a practical interesting writing style, where you feel included in the conversations as they occur.

He covers his definition of quality and what quality is not... it has a good introduction to Quality Costs and how to apply those to your environment...I have already used his Quality Maturity Grid to get an idea of what level of maturity we are at.

This book is amazingly practical, which you could pick up and read without any other exposure to Quality Mangement..of course if you have had exposure to the other gurus' such as Deming and Juran you will get just as much value by comparing the different methodogies and styles.

It is a little dated with some terms (eg comptroller) and is very manufacturing based..but considering it is about 20yrs old and still completely relevant, it's doing pretty well.

This book is a true bargin for the price, especially considering the amount of working-knowledge that Crosby has shared with us..

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