--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Inspection with the aim of finding the…" description: "\"Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and throwing them out is too late, ineffective, and costly. Quality comes not from inspection but from ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg" --- # Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and… ![“Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and throwing them out is too late, ineffective, and costly. Quality comes not from inspection but from improvement of the process.” quote by W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg) > “Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and throwing them out is too late, ineffective, and costly. Quality comes not from inspection but from improvement of the process.” [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quality is achieved by improving processes, not by inspecting and discarding defects after they occur. **In simple terms:** Improve processes, don’t just inspect. Key Takeaway Focus on process improvement. Themes quality process improvement management efficiency Mood determined analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - manufacturing - software development - healthcare - service industry Key Concepts continuous improvement systems thinking statistical control Questions to Reflect On - How can you redesign your workflow to prevent errors? - What metrics reveal process weaknesses? A Different Perspective Inspection alone cannot fix systemic flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [Quality comes not from inspection, but from improvement of the production process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/quality-comes-not-from-inspection-but-from-improvement-of-the/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We cannot rely on mass inspection to improve quality, though there are times when 100 percent inspection is necessary. As Harold S. Dodge said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-cannot-rely-on-mass-inspection-to-improve-quality-though-there-are/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the need for inspection on a mass basis by building quality into the product in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/cease-dependence-on-inspection-to-achieve-quality-eliminate-the-need/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [With the world's unprecedented inspections and access to Iran's program, we'll know if Iran ever tries to break out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/with-the-world-s-unprecedented-inspections-and-access-to-iran-s/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I think it's fantastic when the young enrage their elders. I really do believe that if it's too loud, you are indeed too old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-it-s-fantastic-when-the-young-enrage-their-elders-i-really-do/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [No nation ever yet found any inconvenience from too close an inspection into the conduct of its officers, but many have been brought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-livingston/no-nation-ever-yet-found-any-inconvenience-from-too-close-an/) Edward Livingston > [The more powerful a person or institution is, the more transparent - open to public inspection or oversight - its activities should be. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-scialabba/the-more-powerful-a-person-or-institution-is-the-more-transparent/) [George Scialabba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-scialabba/) > [ \[On women:\] We are all yeses. We are worthy enough, we passed inspection, we survived the great fetal oocyte extinctions. In that sense, at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-angier/on-women-we-are-all-yeses-we-are-worthy-enough-we-passed-inspection/) [Natalie Angier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-angier/) > [Those blue eyes glinted with uncivilized suggestion. A faint smile was tucked in the corner of his wide mouth. Definitely wouldn't want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/those-blue-eyes-glinted-with-uncivilized-suggestion-a-faint-smile-was/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I think the danger right now is that without effective inspections, without effective monitoring, Iraq can in a very short period of time measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ritter/i-think-the-danger-right-now-is-that-without-effective-inspections/) [Scott Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ritter/) > [International inspectors are on the ground and Iran is being subjected to the most comprehensive, intrusive inspection regime ever negotiated to monitor a nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/international-inspectors-are-on-the-ground-and-iran-is-being/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The cost of an on-site inspection team would be minuscule compared to war, Saddam would have no choice except to comply, the results would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-cost-of-an-on-site-inspection-team-would-be-minuscule-compared-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [By rights, satire is a lonely and introspective occupation, for nobody can describe a fool to the life without much patient self-inspection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-colby/by-rights-satire-is-a-lonely-and-introspective-occupation-for-nobody/) [Frank Moore Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-colby/) > [On inspection, Gaudi's architecture isn't whimsical at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/on-inspection-gaudi-s-architecture-isn-t-whimsical-at-all/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Keep in mind that the Iraqis are not telling us anything we don't already know or can't prove. This is what makes this whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/keep-in-mind-that-the-iraqis-are-not-telling-us-anything-we-don-t/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by W. Edwards Deming > [Absence of defects does not necessarily build business... Something more is required.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/absence-of-defects-does-not-necessarily-build-business-something-more/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [In Japan, a company worker's position is secure. He is retrained for another job if his present job is eliminated by productivity improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/in-japan-a-company-worker-s-position-is-secure-he-is-retrained-for/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We are here to make another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-here-to-make-another-world/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It is a mistake to assume that if everybody does his job, it will be all right. The whole system may be in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-if-everybody-does-his-job-it-will-be/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/innovation-comes-from-the-producer-not-from-the-customer/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [The only useful function of a statistician is to make predictions, and thus to provide a basis for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-only-useful-function-of-a-statistician-is-to-make-predictions-and/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A leader is a coach, not a judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-leader-is-a-coach-not-a-judge/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [It does not happen all at once. There is no instant pudding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-does-not-happen-all-at-once-there-is-no-instant-pudding/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Sub-optimization is when everyone is for himself. Optimization is when everyone is working to help the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/sub-optimization-is-when-everyone-is-for-himself-optimization-is-when/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [We know what we told him, but we don't know what he heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-know-what-we-told-him-but-we-don-t-know-what-he-heard/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Rational behavior requires theory. Reactive behavior requires only reflex action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/rational-behavior-requires-theory-reactive-behavior-requires-only/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [A manager of people needs to understand that all people are different. This is not ranking people. He needs to understand that the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/a-manager-of-people-needs-to-understand-that-all-people-are-different/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [“It is not enough to just do your best or work hard; You must know what to work on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/it-is-not-enough-to-just-do-your-best-or-work-hard-you-must-know-what/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [You have to manage a system. The system doesn't manage itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/you-have-to-manage-a-system-the-system-doesn-t-manage-itself/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Two basic rules of life are: 1) Change is inevitable. 2) Everybody resists change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/two-basic-rules-of-life-are-1-change-is-inevitable-2-everybody/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) [Explore all 255 W. Edwards Deming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and throwing them out is too late, ineffective, and costly. Quality comes not from inspection but from improvement of the process.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W. Edwards Deming" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-bad-ones-and-throwing-them-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-bad-ones-and-throwing-them-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5c/w-edwards-deming-1337_aim_inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-b_401265.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Inspection with the aim of finding the bad ones and throwing them out is too late, ineffective, and costly…” — W. Edwards Deming", "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": "W. Edwards Deming", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Inspection with the aim of finding...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-bad-ones-and-throwing-them-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/inspection-with-the-aim-of-finding-the-bad-ones-and-throwing-them-out/#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 } } ] } ```