---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where there is no standard, there can be…"
description: "\"Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement. For these reasons, standards are the basis for both maintenance and improvement\" — Masaaki Imai"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg"
---

#  Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement…

![“Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement. For these reasons, standards are the basis for both maintenance and improvement” quote by Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg)

> “Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement. For these reasons, standards are the basis for both maintenance and improvement”

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Without standards, improvement is impossible; standards provide the foundation for maintaining and enhancing quality.

**In simple terms:** Standards enable progress and upkeep.

Key Takeaway

Establish clear standards before trying to improve.

Themes

quality improvement standards

Mood

practical analytical

Type

instructional strategic

When to use this quote

- manufacturing
- software development
- education

Key Concepts

continuous improvement process control

Questions to Reflect On

- What standards could you set for personal growth?
- How can standards be flexible yet effective?

A Different Perspective

Rigid standards may stifle creativity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Improvement Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement-reasons-3918993/) [Maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintenance/) [Maintenance Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintenance-improvement-3918995/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-standards-3918992/) [Standard Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standard-improvement-3918991/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards Basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-basis-3918994/)

## Related quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of Islamic democracy, Islamic social justice and the equality of manhood in your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/you-have-to-stand-guard-over-the-development-and-maintenance-of/)

[Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/)

> [The real challenge in doing a TV show is in what I would call the maintenance energy. You take that creative energy and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/the-real-challenge-in-doing-a-tv-show-is-in-what-i-would-call-the/)

[Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/)

> [Back in 2011, when the weekend maintenance disruptions got more aggressive, we were told that the work on weekends and at night and midday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-thomson/back-in-2011-when-the-weekend-maintenance-disruptions-got-more/)

[Robert James Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-thomson/)

> [One of the primary necessities of the world for the maintenance of peace is the elimination of the frictions which arise from competitive armament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/one-of-the-primary-necessities-of-the-world-for-the-maintenance-of/)

[Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/)

> [What modernity requires is not that you cease living according to your faith, but that you accept that others may differ and that therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/what-modernity-requires-is-not-that-you-cease-living-according-to/)

[Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/)

> [The cancer is in remission, and I will shortly go on a drug maintenance regimen to keep it there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brokaw/the-cancer-is-in-remission-and-i-will-shortly-go-on-a-drug/)

[Tom Brokaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brokaw/)

> [The rich are different. Their wants are very high maintenance. They'll pick eye color and hair color, all the way down to what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/the-rich-are-different-their-wants-are-very-high-maintenance-they-ll/)

[Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/)

> [The new experience that has replaced dignified suffering is artificially prolonged, opaque, depersonalized maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-new-experience-that-has-replaced-dignified-suffering-is/)

[Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/)

> [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. Program maintenance is an entropy-increasing process, and even its most skillful execution only delays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/systems-program-building-is-an-entropy-decreasing-process-hence/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Those who accept freedom of religion as a right are obligated by this acceptance to take the maintenance of freedom of religion as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-leon-blau/those-who-accept-freedom-of-religion-as-a-right-are-obligated-by-this/)

[Joseph Leon Blau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-leon-blau/)

> [“Existence, it seems, is chiefly maintenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/existence-it-seems-is-chiefly-maintenance/)

[Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/)

> [Im very easy going and low maintenance when it comes to my hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-raquel-robinson/im-very-easy-going-and-low-maintenance-when-it-comes-to-my-hair/)

[Wendy Raquel Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-raquel-robinson/)

> [My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/my-mom-said-the-only-reason-men-are-alive-is-for-lawn-care-and/)

[Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/)

> [In order to pin down reality as realilty, we need another reality to relativize the first. Yet that other reality requires a third reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-order-to-pin-down-reality-as-realilty-we-need-another-reality-to/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## More by Masaaki Imai

> [There are various non-statistical tools that have been typically developed by lean companies, notably by Toyota for minimizing variability in production, such as standardization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/there-are-various-non-statistical-tools-that-have-been-typically/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [I have a theory that among the large Western companies (mostly American) the higher an executive is promoted, the more wisdom is lost and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/i-have-a-theory-that-among-the-large-western-companies-mostly/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [I believe that management should focus on two particular areas. One is Gemba (shop floor) and the other is customer (not the shareholder).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/i-believe-that-management-should-focus-on-two-particular-areas-one-is/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [Progress is impossible without the ability to admit mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/progress-is-impossible-without-the-ability-to-admit-mistakes/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [Japanese management practices succeed simply because they are good management practices. This success has little to do with cultural factors. And the lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/japanese-management-practices-succeed-simply-because-they-are-good/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [The message of the Kaizen strategy is that not a day should go by without some kind of improvement being made somewhere in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/the-message-of-the-kaizen-strategy-is-that-not-a-day-should-go-by/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [To assure the prosperity of a firm should be a long-term strategy and the turnover of key managers should be taken into account from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/to-assure-the-prosperity-of-a-firm-should-be-a-long-term-strategy-and/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [Under the lean system, any tools which are required for solving problems are used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/under-the-lean-system-any-tools-which-are-required-for-solving/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [Control charts are one of the statistical tools for solving quality related problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/control-charts-are-one-of-the-statistical-tools-for-solving-quality/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [The standard is not writ on the stone. The definition of the standard is that it is the best way to do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/the-standard-is-not-writ-on-the-stone-the-definition-of-the-standard/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [I am beginning to see a large-scale introduction of various management tools, philosophies and practices in the service sectors and have a high hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/i-am-beginning-to-see-a-large-scale-introduction-of-various/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [It is impossible to improve any process until it is standardized. If the process is shifting from here to there, then any improvement will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/it-is-impossible-to-improve-any-process-until-it-is-standardized-if/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [Kaizen means ongoing improvement involving everybody, without spending much money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/kaizen-means-ongoing-improvement-involving-everybody-without-spending/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [The Kaizen Philosophy assumes that our way of life - be it our working life, our social life, or our home life - deserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/the-kaizen-philosophy-assumes-that-our-way-of-life-be-it-our-working/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

> [All of management's efforts for Kaizen boil down to two words: customer satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/all-of-management-s-efforts-for-kaizen-boil-down-to-two-words/)

[Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

[Explore all 18 Masaaki Imai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/)

## More Bases quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/)

[Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/)

> [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/)

[Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/)

> [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

[Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement. For these reasons, standards are the basis for both maintenance and improvement",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Masaaki Imai"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be-no-improvement-for-these/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bases"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be-no-improvement-for-these/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/masaaki-imai-29789_bases_where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be_448468.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Where there is no standard, there can be no improvement. For these reasons, standards are the basis for both…” — Masaaki Imai",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Masaaki Imai",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Where there is no standard, there...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be-no-improvement-for-these/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be-no-improvement-for-these/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
