A quality guru, Yoji Akao spent decades transforming how companies achieve excellence. Renowned internationally for co-developing the innovative Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method, Akao ensured quality wasn’t an afterthought. QFD directly translates customer needs into product design specifications. But Akao’s impact goes beyond QFD. He championed strategic planning methodologies like Hoshin Kanri, solidifying his legacy as a leader who not only improved quality control but also weaved it into the very fabric of organizational strategy.