WINTER PARK, Fla. — Business expert Philip B. Crosby, one of the founders of the concept of quality control, died Saturday of respiratory failure. He was 75.
Crosby, an author and entrepreneur, is credited with establishing the concept of "zero defect," the term coined at a time in the 1970s when American businesses were satisfied with mediocre work.
Just about all big businesses, from automakers to appliance makers, were entrenched in the idea that an imperfect product was expected. But Crosby's view was that companies would save money if products were built correctly initially. He preached that message for decades and wrote more than a dozen books, translated into 16 languages.
In 1979, he founded Philip Crosby Associates Inc., where he taught managers from all over the world. Later, he opened his Quality College, which now operates in 20 countries.