Quality in Germany ‐ an overview

Regarding preventive quality management, Germany was lagging behind for many years. Managers relied on the famous mark “Made in Germany” for too long. They did not realize that international competition had tightened. However, times have changed. Starting with the boom in ISO certifications, Germany is getting back on track again. Today, total quality management and business excellence concepts are gaining ground. Positive trends regarding both applications for Germany’s Ludwig‐Erhard‐Preis and the use of self‐assessment show that the quality movement has got a new impetus.