Dr. Genichi Taguchi

Dr. Genichi Taguchi's comprehensive system of quality engineering is one of the great engineering achievements of the 20th century.

He is widely acknowledged as a leader in the U.S. industrial quality movement, and is credited for starting the Robust Design movement in Japan more than 30 years ago.

Dr. Taguchi's philosophy began taking shape in the early 1950s when he was recruited to help correct postwar Japan's crippled telephone system.

Finding deficiencies in traditional trial-and-error approaches to identifying design problems, he eventually developed his own complete, integrated methodology for designing experiments.

Systematic and widespread application of Dr. Taguchi's straightforward product development philosophy, as well as his comprehensive set of design decision-making tools, has contributed significantly to Japanese industry's prowess in producing world class, low cost, quality products rapidly. In 1982, the American Supplier Institute introduced Dr. Taguchi and his methods to the U.S. market. Since that time, companies that have adopted his techniques and philosophy have collectively saved hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide.

Dr. Taguchi has been awarded the coveted Deming Prize on three separate occasions for his contributions to the field of Quality Engineering. In 1986, he received the Willard F. Rockwell Medal for combining engineering and statistical methods to achieve rapid improvements in cost and quality by optimizing product design and manufacturing processes. He received the Blue Ribbon Award from the Emperor of Japan in 1990 for his contribution to industry.

Dr. Taguchi serves as the Executive Director of the American Supplier Institute (ASI), and is available for consultation in the U.S. about eight weeks per year exclusively through the American Supplier Institute.