Crosby's quality philosophy emphasizes which concept?

• A. Zero defects is optional
• B. End-of-line testing is sufficient
• C. Prevention is key and quality should be built into the process
• D. Outsourcing quality control is preferred

Answer: (C)

The main idea Crosby promotes is that quality comes from preventing defects by building it into the way work is done. He argued that quality is planned into the process, not something you try to detect after the fact. The aim is do it right the first time, with a standard of zero defects as the goal, and you reduce costs by preventing problems rather than chasing them later.

End-of-line testing can catch some defects, but it doesn’t prevent them from occurring in the first place and often leads to waste and rework. Outsourcing quality control moves accountability away from those who design and manage the process, which clashes with Crosby’s view that quality must be built into the process itself through standards, training, and effective process design. So the statement that prevention is key and quality should be built into the process best captures Crosby’s philosophy.