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The concept of "lower loss" to society through the reduction in variation of a product or process is attributed to Taguchi. He introduced the idea that quality should be measured not just in terms of products being within specifications but also in the context of the total loss imparted to society from the production and use of a product. Taguchi’s loss function illustrates that even products that meet specifications can still incur costs and losses as a result of variation. By minimizing variation, not only is the quality of the product improved, but the overall cost to society resulting from defects and nonconformance is also reduced. This approach emphasizes that better quality leads to benefits beyond an organization, contributing positively to society at large.

Other notable figures like Juran, Deming, and Ishikawa made significant contributions to quality management, but their primary focus did not center on variation's societal impact in the same way Taguchi articulated. Juran is known for his emphasis on quality planning and the Juran Trilogy, Deming focused on systemic quality and continuous improvement, and Ishikawa developed quality circles and emphasized the role of teams in quality management.