The History of Sandholm Associates
Lennart Sandholm and Joseph Juran
Early Inspiration from USA
Lennart Sandholm embarked on his quality journey in 1958 at Elektrohelios, where he was tasked with reducing product complaints. Following the company’s merger with Electrolux in 1964, Lennart was appointed head of the group’s newly established central quality department—marking the first time a Swedish company elevated quality management to the executive level. Before this, he had studied in the USA, where he developed a close relationship with quality pioneer Joseph Juran, who later became a long-standing collaborator with Sandholm Associates.
First in Europe 1971
Sandholm Associates was established in 1971 by Lennart Sandholm, with support from renowned quality expert Joseph Juran. It became Sweden's and one of Europe’s first specialized providers of education and consulting in quality development. During this period, the "Japanese miracle" was emerging, as Japan surpassed the West in quality, ultimately outcompeting Western companies across various industries. This shift sparked a rapid increase in interest in quality among executive management.
Examples of old course catalogues
Global trining together with UN
Advancing quality worldwide with UN
Soon after its founding, Sandholm Associates began giving international quality courses in collaboration with the UN agency UNIDO and the Swedish development agency SIDA. The international operations grew fast, with Sandholm Associates training participants from around 100 countries and local training on-site in 48 different countries. Those initiatives introduced a systematic approach to quality for the first time in several countries and supported the development of national wealth.
First in China1981
In 1981, Lennart Sandholm became the first Westerner invited to China to teach quality, a concept that became locally known as "Sandholm control." This marked the beginning of a close collaboration with the China Association for Quality (CAQ) and the Shanghai Association for Quality (SAQ). Over the years, Chinese quality standards have evolved from modest to increasingly achieving a globally leading position. Sandholm Associates' current CEO, Lars Sörqvist, has also been serving as a visiting professor at Shanghai University.
First Training Course in China 1981
Lennart Sandholm and Kaoru Ishikawa
Close coperation with Japan and USA
Lennart Sandholm understood the value of external influences, particularly from the USA and Japan. He invited numerous experts to share their insights at seminars, fostering the development of a significant international network that continues to thrive. This network has led to lasting friendships and strong relationships with many quality professionals worldwide. Building on this legacy, Lars Sörqvist has served as a board member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and President and Chairman of the International Academy for Quality (IAQ).
Pioneering Quality Research in Sweden
In 1976, Sweden's first education and research program in quality management was established at Linköping University by Lennart Sandholm. In 1990, he became an adjunct professor of quality at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). Lars Sörqvist took over and expanded this work in 1994. Both Lennart and Lars have made significant contributions to global quality research, collaborating with universities across multiple continents. Additionally, several of Sandholm Associates' consultants hold PhDs and actively conduct research alongside their professional work, further strengthening the firm’s expertise and academic foundation.
Lennart Sandholm awarded by the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria
Arranging Conferences
Introducing Six Sigma and Lean in Sweden
In the early 1980s, Sandholm Associates in Sweden began introducing the Japanese flow-oriented concept that would later become known as Lean Production. Collaborating with American professor Richard Schonberger, the company conducted numerous training programs and seminars to promote this concept. By the late 1990s, Sandholm Associates played a central role in introducing the Six Sigma concept to Sweden. Alongside launching new training programs, the company organized a series of seminars and conferences over several years in partnership with companies such as Volvo, SKF, and Ericsson.
Quality in Public Organizations
In the early 1990s, interest in systematic quality work began to grow within the public sector. Sandholm Associates took an active role in this development, drawing inspiration from successful examples worldwide. The company developed a range of tailored training programs and models for healthcare, social services, and education. Extensive efforts were also carried out across various Swedish government agencies. CEO Lars Sörqvist has had the opportunity to lecture on quality management in the Swedish Parliament and has developed training material in quality for politicians.
Quality for Politicans
The 1989 class of the Quality Manager Course with Lennart Sandholm and Joseph Juran in the middle
Developing and defining the knowledge of quality
Sandholm Associates has played an essential role in advancing knowledge within the field of quality management. The bodies of knowledge behind our training programs are continuously developed. The Sandholm Associates Quality Manager Course has become a national benchmark. Since its launch in 1989, it has served as a norm for the core competencies required of quality managers. Most Swedish industrial companies and many other organizations today use this program as a reference. As a result, it has significantly contributed to establishing a high and consistent standard of national quality expertise in Sweden.
Aiming to Influence and improve the world
Sandholm Associates is driven by a purpose beyond being a profitablecompany. Our commitment to quality knows no boundaries, and we strongly believe that continuous improvement can contribute to a better future and enhance quality of life. Since our founding in 1971, we have worked to influence decision-makers to improve both Sweden and the world. We are convinced that this is possible through countless small, meaningful steps. To support this mission, we continuously publish books and articles, offer free seminars, reach out through social media, write debate articles, and strive to be an advocate for quality.
Examples of books published
Sandholm Associates Leadership Model
Future of quality and quality of future
Quality management is undergoing significant development to address future challenges and contribute to a desirable and sustainable future. A key focus is integrating classical quality knowledge with areas such as sustainability, digitalization, and AI - domains where Sandholm Associates has established a leading position. Other core areas of our development include creating new approaches to leading organizations in an increasingly fast-changing and unpredictable world. A critical aspect of this work is supporting the establishment of employeeship and fostering value-driven quality cultures within our clients' organizations.
Join Sandholm Associates into the future
Sandholm Associates is evolving more rapidly than ever, moving toward an agile and exciting future. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of online-based pedagogical approaches, surpassing all expectations and unlocking new opportunities in the global market for online education. An excellence center - Casa das Descobertas - where clients will develop in harmony and presence is under construction in northern Portugal, further developing our services and capabilities. To guide the company into this new era, we are nurturing the next generation of leadership and expertise in collaboration with our global partners and networks.
