Instead of producing perfect parts, manufacturers should determine what "quality" means to the consumer and equip their assembly lines to meet that goal.
"Quality" has been the holy grail of manufacturing for more than 40 years now, and it is a worthy goal. But, somewhere along the line the concept of "quality" became inextricably tied to the concept of "perfection." The result has been a cascade of unintended consequences, not the least of which is the dawning realization that with perfection as a goal, the cost of success may well be greater than the cost of failure.