Hitoshi Kume, who was tutored by Kaoru Ishikawa, contrasted quality control from the viewpoints of purchasers and suppliers, saying, "Quality control based on existing standards and purchasers' requirements is quality control from the purchaser's standpoint. On the supplier's side, quality control can be made into a management tool by building a system for performing quality improvement methodically, systematically and continuously." ISO 9001, QS-9000 and ISO TS 16949 are examples of requirements from the purchaser's perspective. "As part of business management, quality control is a management tool with tremendous potential, and superb results can be obtained if suppliers take the lead and implement it on their own initiative. Its full potential cannot be realized if it is practiced simply in accordance with purchaser's requirements," Kume added.
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