According to Harvard Business Review, less than half of employees say their organization exhibits a culture of quality. And while the benefits of a quality culture are huge—think hundreds of millions in savings—getting there doesn’t happen overnight.

Instead, it requires sustainable habits that provide a foundation for long-term change. Below, we look at seven of the most important habits of a mature quality culture.

1. Walking the talk on quality

It’s a mistake to think aspirational messages like “quality first” are enough to lead your organization to a quality culture. Change is only possible when leaders are engaged at every level, consistently demonstrating quality principles in action.

In practical terms, this means leaders must:
• Make frequent and highly visible appearances on the plant floor
• Be curious and engage in nonjudgmental conversations about quality
• Roll up their sleeves to help when necessary
• Avoid behavior that puts cost, output, or schedule above quality

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