Does quality exist in the electron microscope laboratory? What is quality? Quality is when a product or service meets all of the customers' requirements, is delivered in the correct quantity at the required time, to the right place and at a price the customer is prepared to pay.

In an open competitive environment all of the above would apply. In an electron microscope laboratory are we totally satisfied that we have given consideration to our product? We also provide a service, are we happy that the service we provide is of a sufficiently high standard, a standard that we would expect if we were the customers in a hotel or a garage? If we follow the example of world trends in industry, then simple product and service quality, in isolation, fs no longer sufficient, and focus must be given to a total quality approach.