--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without standards, there can be no…" description: "\"Without standards, there can be no improvement.\" — Taiichi Ohno" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg" --- # Without standards, there can be no improvement. ![“Without standards, there can be no improvement.” quote by Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg) > “Without standards, there can be no improvement.” [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Standards are prerequisite for improvement. **In simple terms:** Need standards to improve. Key Takeaway Set clear standards before improving. Themes quality continuous improvement process Mood analytical pragmatic Type business motivational When to use this quote - business - personal development - education Key Concepts lean manufacturing efficiency Questions to Reflect On - What standards limit you? - How can you revise standards for growth? A Different Perspective Standards may become rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-improvement-2611461/) ## Related quotes > [The characteristic feature of modern capitalism is mass production of goods destined for consumption by the masses. The result is a tendency towards a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-characteristic-feature-of-modern-capitalism-is-mass-production-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [By questioning all the aspects of our business, we continuously inject improvement and innovation into our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/by-questioning-all-the-aspects-of-our-business-we-continuously-inject/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [A most important lesson taught by nature. Only after destruction there is construction. Only on letting go will new opportunities crop up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-most-important-lesson-taught-by-nature-only-after-destruction-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [The Qur'an does not ask for human perfection, but rather asks that we persevere in striving for self-improvement and that we never become complacent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lang/the-qur-an-does-not-ask-for-human-perfection-but-rather-asks-that-we/) [Jeffrey Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lang/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Continuous Improvement is taking control of how your company's money is being put to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/continuous-improvement-is-taking-control-of-how-your-company-s-money/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [If you only know something one way, then you don't really know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-only-know-something-one-way-then-you-don-t-really-know-it/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Taiichi Ohno > [Something is wrong if workers do not look around each day, find things that are tedious or boring, and then rewrite the procedures. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/something-is-wrong-if-workers-do-not-look-around-each-day-find-things/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [Progress cannot be generated when we are satisfied with existing situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/progress-cannot-be-generated-when-we-are-satisfied-with-existing/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [My first move as the manager of the machine shop was to introduce standardized work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/my-first-move-as-the-manager-of-the-machine-shop-was-to-introduce/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [And we are reducing the time line by reducing the non-value-added wastes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/and-we-are-reducing-the-time-line-by-reducing-the-non-value-added/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [The more inventory a company has, the less likely they will have what they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/the-more-inventory-a-company-has-the-less-likely-they-will-have-what/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [I’m proud to be Japanese and I wanted my country to succeed. I believed my system was a way that could help us become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/i-m-proud-to-be-japanese-and-i-wanted-my-country-to-succeed-i/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [The key to the Toyota Way and what makes Toyota stand out is not any of the individual elements…But what is important is having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/the-key-to-the-toyota-way-and-what-makes-toyota-stand-out-is-not-any/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [If you are going to do TPS you must do it all the way. You also need to change the way you think. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/if-you-are-going-to-do-tps-you-must-do-it-all-the-way-you-also-need/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [The slower but consistent tortoise causes less waste and is more desirable than the speedy hare that races ahead and then stops occasionally to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/the-slower-but-consistent-tortoise-causes-less-waste-and-is-more/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [We are doomed to failure without a daily destruction of our various preconceptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/we-are-doomed-to-failure-without-a-daily-destruction-of-our-various/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [When you are out observing on the gemba, do something to help them. If you do, people will come to expect that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/when-you-are-out-observing-on-the-gemba-do-something-to-help-them-if/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [Costs do not exist to be calculated. Costs exist to be reduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/costs-do-not-exist-to-be-calculated-costs-exist-to-be-reduced/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [“Perhaps the more that a person is an intellectual the more they are prone to misconceptions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/perhaps-the-more-that-a-person-is-an-intellectual-the-more-they-are/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [It takes great effort to follow the rules of a pull system ... thus a half-hearted introduction of a pull system brings a hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/it-takes-great-effort-to-follow-the-rules-of-a-pull-system-thus-a/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) > [Where there is no Standard there can be no Kaizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/where-there-is-no-standard-there-can-be-no-kaizen/) [Taiichi Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) [Explore all 29 Taiichi Ohno quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/) ## More Improvement quotes > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If you only know something one way, then you don't really know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-only-know-something-one-way-then-you-don-t-really-know-it/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) > [Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/research-is-an-organized-method-of-trying-to-find-out-what-you-are/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Continuous Improvement is taking control of how your company's money is being put to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/continuous-improvement-is-taking-control-of-how-your-company-s-money/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The Qur'an does not ask for human perfection, but rather asks that we persevere in striving for self-improvement and that we never become complacent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lang/the-qur-an-does-not-ask-for-human-perfection-but-rather-asks-that-we/) [Jeffrey Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lang/) > [“A responsible woman doesn’t see opportunities and needs and look the other way pretending not to see them rather she gets to work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-responsible-woman-doesn-t-see-opportunities-and-needs-and-look-the/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [A most important lesson taught by nature. Only after destruction there is construction. Only on letting go will new opportunities crop up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-most-important-lesson-taught-by-nature-only-after-destruction-there/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [By questioning all the aspects of our business, we continuously inject improvement and innovation into our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/by-questioning-all-the-aspects-of-our-business-we-continuously-inject/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [I don't feel like congratulating myself, because I know there's still a lot of room for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/i-don-t-feel-like-congratulating-myself-because-i-know-there-s-still/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) [Browse all 2,074 Improvement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Without standards, there can be no improvement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taiichi Ohno" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/without-standards-there-can-be-no-improvement/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Improvement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/without-standards-there-can-be-no-improvement/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/taiichi-ohno-21363_improvement_without-standards-there-can-be-no-improv_1874880.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without standards, there can be no improvement.” — Taiichi Ohno", "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": "Taiichi Ohno", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taiichi-ohno/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Without standards, there can be no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/without-standards-there-can-be-no-improvement/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taiichi-ohno/without-standards-there-can-be-no-improvement/#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 } } ] } ```