An approach to, and concern for, quality which pervades a business organization from top to bottom. It was originally introduced to Japan in the aftermath of the Second World War by the American engineers W. Edwards deming and Joseph Juran. It is based on close attention to detail, self-monitoring by workers at each step, and a passionate commitment to quality as part of an organization’s identity, which is internalized by everyone in it. This approach is customer-driven and aims for zero defects, while being imbued with the spirit of kaizen or continuous improvement.