Which individual is known for the assertion that quality must be built into products at all levels?

The assertion that quality must be built into products at all levels is most closely associated with Armand V. Feigenbaum. He introduced the concept of "Total Quality Control," which emphasizes the importance of integrating quality management into all processes of an organization. This means that quality is not just the responsibility of a specific department, but rather it should be an integral part of the culture and operations at every level. Feigenbaum argued that quality must be a company-wide effort, involving every employee and every process, which aligns with the belief that quality should be built from the ground up rather than being inspected in after production.

This precise understanding of the role of quality in every operational layer is what sets this individual apart in the discussion of quality management. Other prominent figures in quality management, such as Philip Crosby, W. Edwards Deming, and Joseph M. Juran, contributed significantly to the field with their own principles and perspectives, but it is Feigenbaum who specifically articulated the importance of embedding quality into all aspects of product development and organizational processes.