Although quality managers are usually seen as the stewards of products that meet specifications and processes that don’t fail, what they’re really interested in is performance -- helping people and machines work together to make things easier, better, faster and less expensive. 

Problems cost money. The sooner a potential problem or error is anticipated and resolved, the less it will ultimately cost an organization. This includes direct costs like warranty claims and recalls, and in more serious terms, the long-term costs associated with lost business and damage to a company’s reputation.