How was quality handled in the first half of the 20th century prior to TQM?

In the first half of the 20th century, quality management primarily focused on inspection and the detection of defects, rather than prevention. Methods such as statistical quality control began to emerge, with pioneers like Walter Shewhart introducing concepts of variability and control charts. However, quality was often viewed as a separate function, largely reactive and limited to the final stages of production. The emphasis was on meeting specifications rather than continuous improvement or customer satisfaction, setting the stage for the later development of Total Quality Management (TQM).