Dr. Yoshio Kondo

Dr. Yoshio Kondo was named ASQ’s 23rd Honorary member. The citation reads, “For his exceptional contribution to the global quality community as a thought-leader in the fields of human motivation and total quality management and his exemplary personal dedication to the promotion of quality throughout the world.” Kondo is the global quality emissary for the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), the position formerly held by quality guru Karou Ishikawa.

Kondo is professor emeritus of Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Prior to his retirement in 1987, he was professor and dean of the faculty of engineering at Kyoto University. He also taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology during a two-year sabbatical. His present major interest is human motivation, creativity, leadership, and participation in the field of quality management.

Kondo has published more than 500 articles and papers as well as a dozen books, two of which - Human Motivation: A Key Factor for Management and Companywide Quality Control: Its Background and Development - have been translated into English.

Kondo is the former president of the Japanese Society for Quality Control, JUSE councilor, member of the Deming Prize Committee, and advisor to the Quality Circles of Japan. He has also served as president and chairman of the International Academy of Quality.

He is a two-time recipient of the Nikkei Press Quality Control Literature Prize; and received the individual Deming Prize from JUSE; the Science Award from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers; plus the Tanigawa-Harris Award from the Japanese Institute of Medals. Kondo’s previous ASQ honors include the Grant and Lancaster awards and the Ishikawa and Distinguished Service medals.