Great Q, Big Q and Little q

I would like to further discuss the concept on “Global Quality / Great Quality” from my previous ASQ Influential Voice article. Big Q and Little q is a term coined by Dr Juran in 1980s. Big Q is about a broad, strategic and complex perspective and Little q is about a micro aspect an operational issue such as quality control.

For product, Little q would be manufactured goods, while Big Q would encompass all products, goods and services, whether for sale or not.
For processes, Little q focuses on those processes directly related to the manufacture of goods, while Big Q covers all processes.
Therefore, Little q could be considered as Quality Control for the product & direct process (Traditional concept). Big Q could be considered as Quality Management in the whole organization (Broader concept).

In 1980s, Big Data and Globalization issues had not been happened. So Total Quality Management (TQM) and Company-wide Quality Control (CWQC) were familiar for manufacturing industry and employed Big Q at that time. Therefore, I proposed Great Q (Great Quality = Global Quality) to adopt the 21st century Quality World. Great Quality is not only for product or company-wide management but also included Globalization (world supply chain management), Big Data analysis for user experience and Innovation for new product and service. This evolution is similar to Six Sigma. Generation I of Six Sigma (SS 1.0) was for defect reduction. Generation II of Six Sigma (SS 2.0) emphasized process efficiency. Now, Generation III of Six Sigma (SS 3.0) is used for developing new products and services that reach new and broader markets; that is, for Innovation!

It is obvious that breakthrough innovation can trump quality improvement. Thus, quality engineering needs to be expanded and much of it repositioned as innovation engineering. In order to adopt the change, Great Quality should be covered Big Q and Little q, as well as, new elements included Globalization, Big Data and Innovation.

Reference:
It’s All About “Big Q” - http://www.juran.com/blog/its-all-about-big-q/
ASQ InfVoices – Global Quality, Great Quality - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/02/asq-infvoices-global-quality-great.html
George E.P. Box & William H. Woodall (2011) “Innovation, Quality Engineering, and Statistics” Quality Engineering, 24:1, 20-29.