THE CATEGORY OF «QUALITY» AND THE MAIN EVOLUTIONARY STAGES OF ITS FORMATION

The article reveals the results of the analysis of the evolutionary development of interpretations of the concept of "quality" from the times of Antiquity to the present. Quality is considered as a philosophical category, the genesis of the category of "quality", which determines various milestones of its understanding, and also presents the points of view of philosophers of the 19th century (John Locke, F. Hegel, I. Kant and F. Engels) in defining this category. The analysis of the understanding of the concept of "quality" in various scientific schools of the 20th century is carried out with an emphasis on the degree of development of society. The scientific vision of the category of "quality" in the works of Walter Shewhart, Edward Deming, Albert Feigenbaum is revealed. The scientific achievements of Joseph M. Juran in the formation of the "quality spiral" are summarized, the features of the vision of the category of "quality" in the works of the Japanese researcher Kaora Ishikawa and his Ishikawa diagram are revealed, the research of F. Crosby and his concept of "ZD" ("Zero Defects"), the vision of quality by the American researcher James Harrington is considered in the work "Quality Management in American Corporations". Particular attention is paid to modern quality management systems built on the basis of ISO 900 series standards. The features of the Ukrainian regulatory framework on quality regulation are revealed. The dictionary interpretation of the category "quality" is considered It is determined that the role and meaning of "quality" is constantly growing under the influence of the development of production technologies and human needs. The growth of the level of culture and education makes consumers more discerning and meticulous about quality every day It is established that quality is the result of the compliance of the object's own characteristics with the requirements that are constantly progressing and forming these own characteristics. The reasons for changing the requirements for the object can be not only the influence of external factors on them, but also the influence of the object's own characteristics