Best on Quality

The Best on Quality book series, published by the International Academy for Quality since 1988, is a unique collection of works capturing the evolution of quality thinking worldwide. From its early beginnings in Europe with Hanser Verlag, through fifteen volumes with ASQ Quality Press, to today’s renewed series with CRC Press, Best on Quality reflects the global journey of quality management—from pioneering methods to modern approaches that shape organizations and societies.

Introduction to the Best on Quality Series

The Best on Quality series is one of the most significant publishing initiatives of the International Academy for Quality (IAQ). Launched in 1988, it was conceived as an annual yearbook to gather the most important thought leadership, research, and practical experiences in quality management from leading experts around the world.

The first four volumes were published in Europe by Carl Hanser Verlag (Munich/Vienna) under the editorship of Hans J. Zeller, giving the series a strong international and academic foundation. These early volumes already included landmark contributions, for example, Yoji Akao’s early account of Quality Function Deployment and Noriaki Kano’s insights on customer satisfaction.

From 1995 onward, the series moved to the United States, where ASQ Quality Press in Milwaukee became the publisher. Under the editorship of John D. Hromi, Madhav N. Sinha, and later Kenneth S. Stephens, the series expanded to reflect the global spread of quality thinking. Volumes addressed emerging practices such as Total Quality Management, quality awards, cultural change, and later, Six Sigma and modern process improvement methodologies.

Over the course of 15 volumes (1988–2004), Best on Quality documented the evolution of the quality profession and its impact on organizations and society. The final volume, Juran, Quality, and a Century of Improvement (2004), was dedicated to the legacy of Joseph M. Juran, one of the greatest pioneers in our field.

Today, IAQ has relaunched a new book series—Best on Quality: Advancing Quality for Humanity, published with CRC Press/Taylor & Francis—continuing the mission to capture leading-edge thinking in quality and sustainability for the benefit of future generations.

Together, the historical and current volumes of Best on Quality form a unique intellectual archive: a reflection of how quality management has grown from industrial practice to a global philosophy shaping organizations, societies, and humanity’s pursuit of excellence.

Publications

Latest Publications

Each volume in this new series presents insightful contributions from IAQ members, collaborators, and invited experts. The books explore the evolving role of quality in the 21st century, moving beyond industry applications to emphasize value for people, society, and the planet. With a focus on sustainability and humanity as the ultimate stakeholder, the series, developed in partnership with CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, will feature research, case studies, and practical applications that show how quality can advance both organizational success and quality of life.

Projects Impacting Organizational Culture
- Evolution by Integrating People into the Equation

By Raúl Molteni

Projects for continuous improvement are prevalent in today's business landscape, with transformations becoming increasingly common. However, individual and organizational resistance often hinders progress and inhibits results. That's where Projects Impacting Organizational Culture: Evolution by Integrating People into the Equation comes in. This essential guide offers a friendly and straightforward process to help prevent and manage change effectively.

Customer-Centric Design Based on QFD Principles

By David Menichelli, Glenn H. Mazur

This book presents a cutting-edge customer-centric design approach, equipping readers with specific tools to effectively analyze customer needs and develop top-tier designs while taking pricing and competition into account. The meticulously chosen tools, rigorously tested by the authors, are derived from Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a proven method with a 50-year track record of successful implementation across various industry sectors.

Best on Quality – IAQ Book Series (1988–2004)