Even in a normal year, achieving high levels of quality is no small feat; it's a daily challenge that requires buy-in from everyone. This year, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on supply chains, worker safety and consumer demand, maintaining high levels of quality became a nearly superhuman feat.

Making it to the top requires dedication, persistence, and continuous improvement.

If you’re a longtime reader of Quality, you’ll have seen our Leadership 100 ranking. Every year, we take a look at the quality programs at manufacturing sites around the country. 

If you subscribe to Quality, it seems safe to assume that quality is a priority for you. But even when it is a priority, achieving high levels of quality is an ongoing challenge that requires effort from every member of the organization every day.

Some companies make high quality look easy. One of our top companies has never been late for a customer delivery in 11 years of business. Another has a quality manager with 40 years of experience. Others always seem to be preparing for their next certification audit. 

Successful companies depend on high quality. Without it, all other elements of a business fall away. Each year, we recognize companies that place a high priority on quality and provide examples of how they achieve these results. The Quality Leadership 100 offers a closer look at companies making quality a priority.

Considering the thousands of readers of Quality magazine, the Quality Leadership 100 showcases the work of just a fraction of the quality professionals in this country.

It’s award season. Of course, for those in the movie business, there’s the Oscars at the end of the month, but for those in the quality profession, you can still earn some recognition in the pages of this magazine.

I’ve never been a fan of awards shows. Whether the Emmys, Oscars, or Grammys, I’ve never found myself tuning in.

1903 was a big year. The Wright Brothers took to the skies, the Ford Motor Company got on the road, and a young William Boeing left Yale and headed to the West Coast.