Who is credited for creating the 14 step approach to quality improvement?

The 14-step approach to quality improvement is credited to Philip Crosby. This framework emphasizes a systematic approach to improving quality within organizations and focuses on the concept of "quality is free," suggesting that investing in quality improvement will lead to cost savings and better overall performance. Crosby's methodology includes key steps such as establishing a quality improvement team, creating a quality improvement culture, and ensuring that everyone in the organization is committed to the quality program.

Crosby's work significantly influenced the quality management field by addressing cultural aspects of quality improvement and highlighting the importance of management's role in driving these initiatives. His emphasis on prevention over inspection and the concept of continuous improvement laid the groundwork for many of the quality improvement practices that followed. The other figures mentioned, such as Deming, Feigenbaum, and Taguchi, contributed significantly to quality management and development, but they are known for different philosophies and methodologies, rather than the 14-step approach specifically attributed to Crosby.