Quality management has been described as "the act of overseeing all activities and tasks needed to maintain a desired level of excellence". This includes creating and implementing quality planning and assurance, as well as quality control and quality improvement.
One of the first exponents was Whitney with his introduction of interchangeable parts for muskets, and the practice was developed by Taylor as part of his scientific management.
Deming applied statistical process control methods in the United States during World War II, successfully improving quality in the manufacture of munitions and other strategically important products.