What does "quality means conformance to standards" imply?

"Quality means conformance to standards" emphasizes that quality is defined by how well a product or service meets specific criteria or established benchmarks. This concept highlights the importance of eliminating defects since adhering to standards aims to minimize variations and imperfections in the final output.

When organizations strive for quality based on conformance to standards, they typically implement processes and controls that ensure outputs consistently meet predetermined specifications. This focus on minimizing defects leads to higher customer satisfaction, as products or services are more reliable and meet customer expectations.

The other options don't align with this interpretation of quality. While subjective perceptions of quality exist, they do not define it in the context of conformance to standards. Regulatory compliance and employee feedback can contribute to quality management but are not the sole factors in establishing whether a product meets the specific standards. Overall, emphasizing conformance directly ties quality to defect elimination and adherence to established benchmarks.