# 026 - "Quality" with H. James Harrington

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2022-03-30
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/026---Quality-with-H--James-Harrington-e1ga6vt

## Summary

Dr. H. James Harrington, CEO of Harrington Management Systems and former president of ASQ, discusses the evolution of quality management from Henry Ford and Shewhart to modern innovation standards. He shares anecdotes about quality gurus like Juran, Ishikawa, and Feigenbaum, and details the three-phase ISO 56002 innovation management system: creation, preparation, and delivery. Harrington emphasizes that true innovation must create value, distinguishing it from simple continuous improvement, and argues for a holistic view of performance that integrates quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction across both manufacturing and service industries.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=0) Introduction: Dr. H. James Harrington and Harrington Management Systems
- [5:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=320) Early Life: Statistical Process Control and Quality at Age Six
- [9:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=574) Evolution of Quality: Ford, Shewhart, Feigenbaum, and Crosby
- [15:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=937) Rewards, Recognition, and Service Industry Quality
- [23:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=1414) Personal Anecdotes: Meeting Quality Gurus Ishikawa, Deming, and Juran
- [34:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=2087) Career Path: IBM, Ernst & Young, and Software Consulting
- [39:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=2369) Defining Innovation: ISO 56002 and the Innovation Cycle
- [49:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-03-30-026-quality-with-h-james-harrington#t=2963) Conclusion: Transition to Part 2

## Topics

- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Harrington Management Systems (company)
- IBM (company)
- Ernst & Young (company)
- ASQ (other)
- ISO 56002 (other)
- Titan missile (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [509: Swarmed by Engineers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-09-05-509-swarmed-by-engineers) (Embedded.fm)
- [How Quality and Innovation Roles are Changing in Data-Rich Manufacturing Environments w/ Daniel First](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-04-14-how-quality-and-innovation-roles-are-changing-in-data-rich-manufacturing-environ) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Building a Culture of Quality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2022-05-20-building-a-culture-of-quality) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [S2E04 How To Build A Quality System That Works For You (and not the other way around) | Matt Heidecker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-29-s2e04-how-to-build-a-quality-system-that-works-for-you-and-not-the-other-way-aro) (Being an Engineer)
- [#440: ICYMI (In Case You Missed It!) Fundamentals of Quality & Regulatory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-01-05-440-icymi-in-case-you-missed-it-fundamentals-of-quality-regulatory) (Global Medical Device Podcast)

## Citing this page

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