History

ASQ has been at the forefront of the quality movement for almost 60 years.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, ASQ traces its beginnings to the end of World War II, as quality experts and manufacturers sought ways to sustain the many quality-improvement techniques used during wartime. ASQ has played a crucial role in upholding these standards from the past while, at the same time, championing continued innovation in the field of quality.

By the end of the 1970s, the principles of quality had greatly influenced manufacturing and other industrial processes, by focusing attention on how products and services could define and meet technical specifications. Businesses typically established a quality-control department to ensure specifications were met.

In the 1980s, ASQ members began to see how quality could be applied beyond the world of manufacturing. Quality, they realized, could make a difference in any organization and touch every person in it. Quality began to blossom into a much broader discipline aimed at leading, inspiring, and managing a broad range of businesses and activities, always with a focus on excellence.

Today manufacturing remains a core of ASQ’s activities, but ASQ also has established itself as a champion of quality in education, healthcare, the service sector and government. ASQ has expanded to more than 100 countries and counts more than 10,000 international members among its overall membership of more than 100,000.

With a rich history and bright future, we're proud to be a touchstone for the principles that turn “good” into “great.”

ASQ Timeline

ASQ’s Archive at The University of Illinois

Honorary Members

Past Presidents of ASQ